The Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, currently home to the Philippines’ national teams and a structure that has stood for more than 80 years, will no longer be sold to a group led by businessman, Enrique Razon, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) said Wednesday.
The center, which houses a football field, ballpark, and pool is located in downtown Manila and sits on land owned by the city government.
Razon’s project would have put up condominiums and commercial centers inside the Rizal complex but PSC chairman, Butch Ramirez said the parties involved eventually decided to halt discussion over the Rizal complex’s sale, citing the cultural importance of the heritage site built in 1934.
“After one year of negotiations, it was not the price but it was more of preserving what Rizal Memorial really stands for,” said Ramirez, who forwarded a letter aborting the deal to Manila mayor Joseph Estrada.
“In the course of our negotiations, it was identified as a heritage site. We can move out of Rizal Memorial and Manila can take over but I don’t want to be blamed by the athletes and the Filipino people.”
The 10-hectare sports complex serves as a residence and training ground for athletes, and a venue for international competitions. Several national sports federations also have offices there.
While it is mainly a sports facility, the structure itself is considered by organizations such as the National Commission for Culture and Arts, and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines as an invaluable piece of local architecture.
The Rizal Memorial Sports Complex is just the latest historic structure in downtown Manila to be threatened by urban development.
Last year, the iconic Philippine National Bank building was demolished because it was deemed unsafe by the local government even though some experts believed the building was strong enough and should have just undergone retrofitting. The PSC will go down that route in order to save the sports center.
Ramirez said the PSC will work with both government agencies to improve the Rizal complex.
Re-published from ABS-CBN News with edits
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