On 27 August 1972, following a six-year construction and improvement program, Estadio Ricardo Saprissa was officially opened.

In 2003, the long tropical rainy season at the stadium caused Saprissa to apply and be granted by FIFA, permission to change the pitch from natural grass to synthetic turf, the then-only stadium in Latin America to have this type of turf.

The local mountains and downtown San José overlook Estadio Saprissa.

The stadium is seen with infamy by players of the United States men's national soccer team.

On numerous occasions, Alexi Lalas has described the stadium as the most "difficult" and "intimidating" to play at; even depicting it as "daunting .