The Don Gregorio Pelaéz Sports Complex located at the heart of Cagayan de Oro City is considered to be the largest in Mindanao.
Built in 1969, the sports complex hosted the first Palarong Pambansa outside Metro Manila in 1975. It also hosted the same annual sporting event in 1977, 1978 and 1988. After nearly three decades, the facility finally underwent major renovation in 1998-2000 and another in 2005-2008, the latter involved the installation of a rubberized track oval (completed in 2008) making it safer to runners. In January 2016, a proposal for the redevelopment of the sports complex came out (Read HERE). Since then, we have not received any updates as of posting.
Meanwhile, here are some latest pictures of the sports complex.
In the background is CDO Polymedic General Hospital and New Dawn Hotel Plus (U/C).
The MOGCHS Admin Building is shown at center with the new school building at right.
Appropriate parking spaces are provided at right. The school building at right was built over the site of the North Grandstand which was destroyed by fire in 2011.
The sports complex has a capacity of 20,000.
The South Grandstand is seen in the background.
The Main Grandstand which is now nearing 50 years old has withstood the tests of time.
The rubberized track oval has been removed and the original asphalt oval is now revealed. Some portions of the rubberized mat can still be seen on the field.
At left is the cauldron where the traditional flame lighting ceremonies are held.
The olympic-size swimming pool is shown below.
This is the South Grandstand.
The Main Grandstand as seen from the South Grandstand.
The eastern part of the complex where baseball, softball, archery and the likes are held. Centrio Tower is seen in the background.
The football field still hosts several events.
The facility was formerly called Marcos Sports Complex but was renamed Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Complex in honor of the former governor of the province.
During early mornings and late afternoons, the track oval is filled by runners, joggers, and people who do all kinds of exercise.
After nearly half a century, the stadium now needs redevelopment with the growing population of the city, province and the region as a whole.