The stadium has a spectator-capacity of 20,000 and includes a running track for track and field events. It was named after Mariano Melgar, a Peruvian patriot and poet from Arequipa. It is also known as "Estadio de Cuarto Centenario" (Forth Centenary Stadium) since it is in a neighborhood built in celebration of the fourth centenary of the Spanish foundation of Arequipa.