Since the 1930s, it has hosted all major local football tournaments and some international matches. When a new tartan track was laid out at the oval for the country's initial hosting of the 1981 Southeast Asian Games, the venue became a hub for athletics and the football pitch's condition slowly deteriorated. It eventually became unsuitable for international matches which meant the
Philippine national team would have to play their home games at an alternate venue. In 2010, the
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) partnered with the
De La Salle University to refurbish the stadium's football pitch. The stadium had undergone a major renovation program with the
Philippine Football Federation (PFF) spend for the renovation of the locker rooms, comfort rooms, and the fiberglass seats. The renovation was completed in 2011 and was first used for the game of
Azkals against
Sri Lanka in
2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers round on July 3, 2011 which was the first international football game held at the stadium in the decades, However, the pitch (which was a natural grass) deteriorated again due to the number of football and rugby events, In 2015, its football pitch received the 2-star accreditation from
FIFA, making it the first football pitch in the Philippines to have it. The stadium has undergone a major renovation after it was designated as the venue for the men's football event of the
2019 Southeast Asian Games New individual seats are to be installed in the spectator area of the stadium outside the main grandstand. The renovation also includes the upgrading of its rubberized track oval. The renovation will be funded from the given by the
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to the Philippine Sports Commission. In early 2025, the stadium's artificial pitch was replaced with a new one within a month and tested on April 11. == Sport ==