Gran Arena del Cibao
Arena in the Dominican Republic
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Gran Arena del Cibao Dr. Oscar Gobaira, historically known as the Palacio de los Deportes de Santiago, is a multi-use indoor arena located in the center of Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. Originally constructed in 1978 and extensively remodeled in 2008 for RD$528,000,000, the 8,768-seat stadium serves as the home court for the Metros de Santiago basketball team and stands as a major northern entertainment hub hosting iconic Latin and local Dominican artists.
Santiago de los Caballeros
Dominican Republic
| |
 Interactive map of Gran Arena del Cibao | |
Full name | Arena del Cibao Dr. Oscar Gobaira |
|---|---|
Former names | Palacio de los Deportes |
| Address | Av. Enriquillo 35 Santiago de los Caballeros Dominican Republic |
| Location | Avenida Enriquillo 35, Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic |
| Coordinates | 19.4654°N 70.7096°W |
| Capacity | 8,768 (Sports) 6,670 (Concerts) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1979 |
| Renovated | 2008 |
| Cost | RD$528 million (renovations) |
| Architect | Rafael Calventi Gaviño |
| Tenant | |
| Metros de Santiago (LNB) | |
In recent years, the arena has faced critical structural challenges stemming from severe roof deterioration. Gaps caused by old ventilation extractors and the theft of protective copper plates have led to major water leaks during heavy rains, repeatedly disrupting events and damaging surrounding areas. An official assessment by a committee of 20 government engineers has ruled out any immediate risk of a total structural collapse.
Description
It is located in the center of Santiago de los Caballeros, where it was originally constructed in 1978 under Joaquín Balaguer as the Palacio de los Deportes de Santiago. Then, the facility underwent a massive RD$528,000,000 remodeling project in 2008, resulting in its modern renaming into Gran Arena del Cibao Dr. Oscar Gobaira.[1] The arena has a capacity of 8,768 seats, consisting of 7,000 regular seats, 668 comfortable armchairs and 1,100 luxury seats that are fully reclinable. The capacity of concerts is between 7,000 and 6,670 seats.[2] The arena is the home of Metros de Santiago, a national basketball team.[3]
Deteriorating infrastructure
In 2023, reports surfaced that the Gran Arena’s roof was severely deteriorating, with the holes originally designed as hot-air extractors causing major leaks during heavy rains, spilling onto the court and delaying basketball games.[4] After two years, the deterioration report was back, showing severe water leaks had reappeared. The reason is primarily the theft of copper plates designed to prevent water infiltration, as well as the opening originally intended for hot-air extraction. The arena's administration uses event revenue for minor fixes such as repairing bathrooms and painting hallways. In April 2024, Luis Abinader announced in La Semanal a multi-million-dollar intervention funded by Kelvin Cruz to repair the air conditioning system.[3]
After that, a committee of 20 engineers from the Ministry of Sports conducted an official structural assessment. The evaluation determined that the visible damage is caused by corrosion and the detachment of protective outer metal sheets, ruling out any immediate risk of structural collapse.[5]
Concert venue
As a concert venue, Aventura was the first act to perform at the venue since it remodelation in 2008. It was the first massive concert in the city in the last 10 years.[6] It has hosted concerts by Don Miguelo, Luis Vargas, Elvis Martinez and DJ Adoni.[1]
Notable events and concerts
| Band/Artist | Event/tour | Date | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aventura[7] | K.O.B Tour | August 29 & 30, 2008 | Sold Out[8] |
| Daddy Yankee | The Big Boss Tour | December 20, 2008 | |
| Wisin & Yandel | Los Extraterrestres World Tour | March 13 & 14, 2009 | |
| Ricardo Arjona | 5to Piso Tour | May 29, 2009 | Sold Out[9] |
| Julio Iglesias[10] | October 27, 2009 | ||
| Ivy Queen, Arcangel, Jowell & Randy, Alexis & Fido, Omega, Toño Rosario & Vakera | Otoño Music Fest 2009[11] | October 31, 2009 | |
| Gilberto Santa Rosa & Sergio Vargas[12] | December 19, 2009 | ||
| Raymond & Miguel[13] | December 26, 2009 | ||
| Hector Acosta "El Torito" | El Torito Monumental[14] | June 12, 2010 | |
| Enanitos Verdes | October 1, 2010 | 4,000[15] | |
| David Bisbal[16] | Sin Mirar Atras Tour | 22 October 2010 | |
| Kanqui[17] | Tu Super Amigo | November 7, 2010 | |
| Don Omar[18] | November 27, 2010 | Sold Out[19] | |
| Tito el Bambio & Zion & Lennox[20] | December 4, 2010 | ||
| Servando & Florentino, Bacilos, Jerry Rivera & Vakero | Tropical Sound Concert | January 11, 2011 | |
| Silvio Rodriguez[21] | March 19, 2011 | ||
| Prince Royce | April 9, 2011 | Sold Out[22] | |
| Daddy Yankee | Mundial Tour | May 21, 2011 | |
| Calle 13 | Entre los que quieran Tour | October 2, 2011[23] | |
| Jesús Adrián Romero y Marcela Gándara[24] | December 14, 2011 | ||
| Hector Acosta "El Torito" | El Torito Pal Pueblo | September 29, 2012 | |
| Arcángel, R.K.M & Ken-Y, Zion & Lennox y Plan B | Hallow Maniac 2012: La Formula de Pina Records[25] | October 27, 2012 | |
| Tercer Cielo | December 22, 2013 | ||
| Jesús Adrián Romero | Soplando Vida Tour[26] | December 20, 2013 | |
| Christine D’Clario, Felsy Jones and Barak[27] | Juntos & en Armonia | March 22, 2014 | |
| Hector Acosta "El Torito", Milly Quezada & Johnny Ventura | La Noche Del Pueblo | October 18, 2015[28] | Sold Out[29] |
| Holiday Urban Fest[a][30] | December 23, 2015 | ||
| Miss Dominican Republic Pageant | August 26, 2018 | ||
| El Nene la Amenazzy | November 16, 2019 | 5,000+[31] | |
| Grabiel[32] | Morisoñando Tour | November 29, 2019 | |
| Don Miguelo[33] | El Mejor del Bloque | August 27, 2022 | Sold Out[34] |
| A Pesar de Todo Fest | August 17, 2024 | ||
| Dj Adoni | September 21, 2024 | Sold Out[35] | |
| Luis Vargas | 40 Años de Trayectoria | Octubre 19, 2024 | |
| El Alfa[36] | El Alfa World Tour | December 14, 2024 | Cancelled |
| Elvis Martinez | The GOAT of Bachata Tour 2025 | July 17–18, 2025 | Sold Out[37] |
| Yailin La Mas Viral | August 30, 2025 | 7,000[38] | |
| Chicas del Can | Las Chicas del Can: El Reencuentro | November 15, 2025 | |
| Shadow Blow | Capitulos | December 20, 2025 | |
| Raulin Rodriguez | December 27, 2025 | ||
| El Prodigio | EL REENCUENTRO EL PRODIGIO & LA SUPER BANDA | September 18 & 19, 2026 | |
| Rawayana | Donde es el After? Tour | October 2 & 3, 2026 | |
Notes
- The line up was composed by Cosculluela, Alexis & Fido, De la Ghetto y Ken-Y, Don Miguelo, El Alfa, Messiah, Sensato, El Mayor Clásico and Mark B.