It was the first stadium in Portugal to be equipped with a lighting system that allowed for night-time activities.

Designed by architects António Augusto Sá da Costa and Anselmo Fernandez, it was named after Sporting CP's founder José Alfredo Holtreman Roquette, known as José Alvalade.

The stadium was closed in 2003, when the new Estádio José Alvalade designed by Tomás Taveira opened.

[1] During the 1990s, the Estádio José Alvalade was one of the most prominent venues for rock concerts in Portugal,[2] hosting tour dates of many high-profile international artists, including among others, rock band Bon Jovi, Depeche Mode, U2, R.E.M., David Bowie, Dire Straits, Elton John, Phil Collins, Pink Floyd, Bryan Adams and Genesis.

This era was inaugurated on June 29, 1989 with a concert by The Cure, during their Prayer Tour promoting the album Disintegration.