Tablada Aerodrome
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Tablada hippodrome | |
| Location | Seville, Andalusia, Spain |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 3,000 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1880 |
| Demolished | 1941 |
| Construction cost | 3.000 pesetas |
The Tablada Aerodrome, formerly known as the Tablada hippodrome, was a sports venue in the city of Seville, Spain. The venue was formed and reformed numerous times in its existence, being a historical fundamental piece in several categories such as Equestrianism (1880–89), serving as the home to the first horse races in the city, football (1890–1899), hosting the first match in Spanish football on 8 March 1890,[1] recreation (1900–1909), and Aviation (1910–1941), such as the first military air raid.
The immense plain of Tablada, located to the south of Seville, was owned by the City Council and was the place where the cattle used to supply meat for the city's markets and also where the inhabitants of the city could freely carry the cavalries and other livestock.[1]
Equestrianism
In the second half of the 19th century, however, its use was expanded to cover other types of activities: A pigeon shooting range was installed, and the Seville Horse Racing Society built a hippodrome on the banks of the Guadalquivir. The first horse races in Seville were organized in 1880 at the initiative of the Real Maestranza de Caballería, and they were held at the Tablada hippodrome, being equipped with grandstands for around 3,000 people.[2] The usual thing was to organize two race sessions a week during the spring and autumn seasons, meaning the opening of the equestrian year in Spain, with famous events such as those known as Omnium de Sevilla and the City Council Prize were the races with the best financial endowment until 1889.[3]
Football
After the constitution of Sevilla FC on 25 January 1890, the facilities of the Tablada hippodrome became its first playing field, ad on 8 March 1890, it had the honor of hosting the very first football game in Spanish football between two official clubs in accordance with the rules of association football. Sevilla FC defeated Recreativo de Huelva by a score of 2–0. The Tablada hippodrome was thus one of the first football fields in the country.