Sebastián Hernández and Marcus Vinicius gave Atlético Huila the victory against Once Caldas – credit Colprensa/Daniel Ocampo
Atlético Huila, one of the traditional teams of Colombian Professional Soccer, could leave its city of origin, Neiva, for the 2025 season.
As reported Antenna 2, The change of venue is due to problems with the use of the Guillermo Plazas Alcid Stadium, which has led Grupo del Valle, owner of the club, to consider other options.
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Atlético Huila would leave Neiva due to delays in the works at Guillermo Plazas Alcid – credit Colprensa/Courtesy La Nación
The conflict with the stadium arose from the delay in the works necessary to enable the stands, which were initially expected to be ready in August 2024. This situation has generated tensions between the club and the local authorities, which has led the Group of Valley to look for alternatives for the Huilense team.
The case of Águilas Doradas is a recent example of a team that decided to change headquarters. The club, which played in Rionegro, moved to Sincelejo due to disagreements with the local mayor’s office. This type of movement has become more common in Colombian football, where clubs seek economic benefits or better sporting conditions in other cities.
For Atlético Huila fans, the possible move represents a significant blow. The team is a symbol in Neiva, and despite competing in the second division of coffee soccer, it had renewed hopes of promotion with the new board. The uncertainty about the future of the Opita club has generated concern among fans, who hope that an agreement will be reached that allows the team to remain in their city.
In the coming weeks, meetings are anticipated between the parties involved to try to resolve the conflict. If an agreement is not reached, Atlético Huila could follow in the footsteps of other clubs and move to a new municipality or department, in search of better conditions for its sporting and economic development.
The Neiva stadium is located among ruins – credit Colprensa-La Prensa 7 Días
On August 19, 2016, a tragedy struck the Plazas Alcid stadium in Neiva, Colombia, when a concrete slab collapsed during remodeling work, killing four workers and leaving ten more seriously injured. This incident occurred in the middle of a renovation project that had begun in January 2015, with the aim of modernizing the stadium to international FIFA standards.
The remodeling project, led by the firm Estadios 2015, contemplated an investment of close to 25 billion pesos for the expansion of the western stand. However, the initially assigned budget was 19 billion, according to the Neiva Mayor’s Office. The work, which was to be completed within ten months, faced several setbacks before the tragedy.
The first accident occurred on April 14, 2015, when six workers were injured when a wall fell on them.. Later, on September 12 of the same year, another plate on the fourth floor collapsed during casting work, although on this occasion there were no victims. These incidents led to the temporary suspension of works, which resumed until the fatal accident occurred in August 2016.
The secretary of Coldeportes, Hebert Artunduaga, had carried out an inspection of the stadium at the beginning of the project, ensuring that the remodeling would meet the standards necessary to host international competitions. However, successive accidents called into question the management and execution of the project, generating concern among the community and the workers involved.
The tragedy at the Plazas Alcid stadium highlights the importance of ensuring safety at construction sites and the need for rigorous supervision to prevent future incidents. The community of Neiva continues to wait for the authorities to take effective measures to conclude the project safely and in accordance with initial expectations.
