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The commune of San Miguel explained that, after completing the technical and legal evaluation process carried out by the special commission in charge of analyzing the viability of the initiative, the proposal to implement a Lima Arena in an area of Las Leyendas Park “is incompatible with the purpose of environmental conservation, animal welfare, public tranquility, citizen safety and the proper use of the territory.”
“The evaluation carried out considered the impact that an infrastructure intended for massive spectacles could generate in an environment that fulfills educational, cultural, recreational and conservation functions, in addition to its relationship with the urban environment and the neighborhood dynamics of the district,” San Miguel said in his statement.
“Any initiative linked to large-scale shows must be developed in spaces compatible with said activity, which have adequate conditions of accessibility, road capacity and safety, also guaranteeing the protection of areas intended for environmental conservation,” he added.
This would be the location of the Lima Arena in an area adjacent to the Parque de las Leyendas. (Photo: @MasMusicPE / X)
Response from the MMl
Faced with such a scenario, the Municipality of Lima clarified that it is the “only competent entity for the evaluation and approval” of the Arena de Lima project and that, in this context, it has received various specialized technical studies on archaeological remains, road impact, environmental, acoustic and zootechnical evaluation, so it will carry out “the evaluation of the project with technical rigor and in strict compliance with current regulations, in order to incorporate everything necessary for the mitigation of impacts.”
“Upon learning of the pronouncement of the Municipality of San Miguel, our metropolitan mayor (Renzo Reggiardo) contacted the mayor of the aforementioned district (Eduardo Bless), proposing a space for dialogue and greater knowledge of the project, in order to avoid isolated or individual pronouncements, as well as the dissemination of information that could generate confusion among citizens or affect private investment processes that have been evaluated with technical criteria, transparency and responsibility,” the MML noted in a statement.
The Municipality of San Miguel does not have the authority to rule on the project, says a source
A source from Grupo La Nación told The Commerce that it has caused “deep surprise” that the municipality of San Miguel has ruled on the Arena de Lima project, despite the fact that it does not have the authority to do so at this stage of the process, since the issue, as it was pointed out, is still within the scope of the Municipality of Lima.
For this reason, he stated that the La Nación Group will continue with the corresponding process to get the MML to approve the project, which is why he ruled out that they are going to present any action or measure regarding the position of the district municipality.
He recalled that the Arena de Lima project was presented by Grupo La Nación as “a Private Initiative in Asset Projects” in May 2024, but that so far the MML has not approved the declaration of interest for said work.
In addition, he pointed out that the Argentine company has carried out, at the request of the Municipality of Lima, various studies necessary for the technical, economic, environmental and legal feasibility of the project, such as studies of soil mechanics, interferences and archaeological remains, road and environmental impact studies, carried out by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of the Environment. He stressed that the studies are focused mainly on soundproofing the enclosure and ensuring animal welfare.
He also highlighted that the studies carried out by Grupo La Nación are confidential, which is why it draws his attention that the municipality of San Miguel issues an opinion on documents to which it supposedly has not had access.
The source highlighted that the Board of Trustees of the Parque de las Leyendas, as well as the Ministry of Culture, the National Forestry and Wildlife Service (Serfor), the Metropolitan Planning Institute (IMP), among other entities convened by the MML, have issued, in the last 24 months, opinions and recommendations in order to protect plant and animal species.
“It would be irresponsible for the District Municipality of San Miguel to issue a statement, since it does not have the Private Initiative, since it is protected by the legal reserve until its approval or rejection, nor with the statements that the entities competent in archaeological matters, animal welfare and environmental conservation have issued in this regard, much less with the result of the technical studies that have been carried out for more than two years, and assuming powers that correspond to the Municipality of Lima, such as the approval or rejection of the project,” stated the source.
“There must be a better communication campaign”
Marlon Castro, director of Special Clients at Apdayc, told The Commercewhen commenting on the case of the Lima Arena, that Lima requires a venue with a high capacity for musical events, but that meets the standards required by the norm.
“It would be very helpful to have a new scenario with high technical levels, with high capacity possibilities, it would be very important for the sector, but for this situation to occur, the project that is being proposed must comply with the minimum legal margins,” Castro stated.
“We believe in the need for a scenario with high technical conditions, with high capacity capacities and facilities in accessing and exiting the roads, that remains, but there are many scenarios that have been adapted to certain high-level conditions and that have improved a lot along the way,” he added.
Castro indicated that there should have been better dissemination of the project. “There has had to be a better communication campaign, a better possibility of official demonstrations that give stability to the situation, to the proposal,” he said.
“The best capitals in the world have show stages, convention centers or high-level arenas and with a high possibility of people entering and nothing happens because they have had a correct technical portfolio and have had the approval of the community,” he added.
About the project
The Lima Arena is a proposal by Grupo La Nación of Argentina, which owns the Arena Movistar in Buenos Aires, and contemplates an initial investment of more than 80 million dollars. The facility would be located on José de la Riva Aguero Avenue, near Gate 8 of the Parque de las Leyendas and in front of the headquarters of General Literature Studies of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP), in San Miguel.
The approach of the Argentine company consists of being given the concession of the Arena Lima for nearly 40 years, plus the additional 3 years for the construction of the infrastructure, which would house more than 20 thousand people.
In order not to affect the animals of Las Leyendas Park and residents of the area, the Arena Lima would be roofed and soundproof. It would include an area of 20,000 m² for concerts and shows, and another 14,000 m² for parking with capacity for 560 vehicles.
The project was promoted during the administration of the former mayor of Lima Rafael López Aliaga, even the Municipal Council approved by majority, in June 2025, the project that proposes the construction of the Lima Arena. Renzo Reggiardo, López Aliaga’s successor, also highlighted the benefits of the project.
“It does not have any risk against animal fauna or in the soil. Cutting-edge technology will be used. Lima does not have an enclosure that is closed and that prevents these scandals,” Reggiardo indicated in November 2025.
What the company says
On its website called Lima Arena, the company highlights that the infrastructure that would be built could be the scene of national and international concerts and that it would be located in an area that will not interfere with the zoo or the archaeological zone, since it will only occupy 2% of the land.
He indicated that the events will not generate outside noise. “Detailed acoustic studies have been carried out by international and local specialists to measure how the sound will behave inside and outside the venue. Lima Arena will be a completely closed and soundproof space, the new venue will emit only 37 decibels to the outside (equivalent to the sound inside a library) much lower than the noise that already exists in the area,” states the Lima Arena website.
“It will be a completely closed and soundproof enclosure, which guarantees that sound does not escape to the outside, so it will not cause discomfort to the environment,” he added.
In addition, he highlighted that one of the benefits of the project is that the Board of Trustees of Parque de Las Leyendas will receive periodic payments for the concession and, upon completion, the infrastructure will become the property of the Municipality of Lima.
“Lima Arena will energize the local economy, promoting tourism, culture, gastronomy and commerce. It will generate new, direct and indirect jobs, especially for young people,” he stated.
