Estadio Azteca
El Coloso de Santa Úrsula | |
| File:Logotipo Estadio Azteca.png | |
 Stadium's exterior | |
 | |
| Location | Calzada de Tlalpan, 3465,[1] Tlalpan, Mexico City, Mexico |
|---|---|
| Public transit | Estadio Azteca Xochimilco Light Rail |
| Owner | Grupo Televisa |
| Operator | Club América |
| Executive suites | 856 |
| Capacity | 87,000 [5] |
| Record attendance | Football: 119,853 (Mexico vs Brazil, 7 July 1968)[3] Boxing: 132,247 (Julio César Chávez vs Greg Haugen, 20 February 1993)[4] |
| Field size | 105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1961 |
| Opened | 29 May 1966 |
| Renovated | 1986, 1999, 2013 and 2016 [2] |
| Construction cost | MXN$260 million |
| Architect | Pedro Ramírez Vázquez |
| Tenants | |
| Mexico national football team (1966–present) América (1966–present) Necaxa (1966–1970, 1982–2003) Atlante (1966–1982, 1996–2001, 2004–2007) Pumas UNAM (1967–1969) Atlético Español (1970–1982) Cruz Azul (1971–1996) | |
The Estadio Azteca (Spanish pronunciation: [esˈtaðjo asˈteka]) is a football stadium located in the suburb of Santa Úrsula in Mexico City, Mexico. Since its opening in 1966, the stadium has been the official home stadium of the professional Mexican football team Club América and the official national stadium of the Mexico national football team. With an official capacity of 87,000[5] it is the largest stadium in Mexico. The stadium sits at an altitude of 7,200 feet above sea level.[6]
Regarded as one of the most famous and iconic football stadiums in the world,[7][8][9][10][11] it is the first to have hosted two FIFA World Cup Finals.[12] In the 1970 World Cup Final, Brazil defeated Italy 4–1, and in the 1986 World Cup Final, Argentina defeated West Germany 3–2. It also hosted the 1986 quarter-final match between Argentina and England in which Diego Maradona scored both the "Hand of God goal" and the "Goal of the Century". The stadium also hosted the "Game of the Century", when Italy defeated West Germany 4–3 in extra time in one of the 1970 semifinal matches.
The stadium was also the principal venue for the football tournament of the 1968 Summer Olympics.[13]
History
El estadio mas pedorro de mexico,en mi punto de vista porque ameierdica juega ahi.pd fuera de liguila :2
Name
The name "Azteca" is a tribute to the Aztec heritage of Mexico City. The stadium is now owned by Mexican TV consortium Televisa. In order to avoid people associating the stadium's name with that of its rival TV Azteca, Televisa officially changed the stadium's name to Guillermo Cañedo, a top executive, long-time football advocate at Televisa and prominent member of the executive committee of FIFA. The change took place in 1997, following Cañedo's death on 20 January 1997.[14] However, the change did not go well with the general population[citation needed], who generally refused to refer to the stadium by its formally new name. Following a schism where two of Cañedo's sons, who worked at Televisa, switched camps and went to TV Azteca,[15] Televisa quietly returned the stadium's name to its original version. Some people[who?] did not even notice, as they usually referred to the stadium as "Azteca" during the name change.
The stadium has been given[by whom?] the nickname "Coloso de Santa Úrsula", which in English translates to "Colossus of Saint Ursula", due to its large structure. Santa Úrsula refers to the suburb where the stadium is located.[16]
Access and entrance
It is served by the Azteca station on the Xochimilco Light Rail line. This line is an extension of the Mexico City metro system which begins at Metro Tasqueña station and ends in the Xochimilco Light Rail Station.
Tickets are available up until kick-off times from the ticket office which is located at the front of the stadium, located towards the exit ramps from the Azteca station. Prices start from as little as MXN$100 (about US$5 as of 2016), and could cost up to MXN$500 (about US$26 as of 2016) for more high-profile matches.[17]
Monuments and memorials
A commemorative bronze plaque of the "Game of the Century" played between Italy and West Germany, as well as Diego Maradona's "Goal of the Century" against England.
There is also a commemorative plaque with the names of the first goal scorer in the inaugural match and in the first match played at night.
Notable events
Estadio Azteca has hosted a variety of international sporting competitions, including:
Football
- 1968 Summer Olympics
- 1970 FIFA World Cup
- 1975 Pan American Games
- 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship
- 1986 FIFA World Cup
- 1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup
- 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup
- 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
- 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup
Boxing
- On 20 February 1993, Julio César Chávez fought Greg Haugen in front of 132,247 spectators. Puerto Rican boxing legend Félix Trinidad also fought there that night, beating Pedro Aguirre of Mexico in a preliminary fight.
American football
- On 15 August 1994, Estadio Azteca hosted a preseason American Bowl game between the Houston Oilers and Dallas Cowboys which still holds the record for the highest attendance at any NFL game, with 112,376 in attendance.[18] The Houston Oilers won the game 6–0.
- On 2 October 2005, the first international regular-season game in the history of the NFL was played in the stadium between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals. The game was a 31–14 victory for the Cardinals. It set the record of the largest crowd to attend a regular-season NFL game with 103,467, but this record would be broken in 2009.[18]
- On 21 November 2016, the Oakland Raiders hosted a home game along with the Houston Texans as part of the NFL International Series. It was the first Monday Night Football game played outside of the United States.[19] The game saw a sell-out crowd of 76,743 in a renovated Estadio Azteca.[20]
- The Raiders will host the Patriots at the stadium on November 19, 2017.
Concerts
- On 12 March 1983, Menudo was the first band to sell out a solo concert at the stadium with an attendance of over 100,000 people.
- On 29, 31 October and 07, 09 and 11 November 1993, Michael Jackson finished the Dangerous World Tour with five sold out shows at this stadium, for a total of 500,000 people (circa 100,000 per show, more than any other artist or band, Mexican or International).
- On 14 May 2011, Irish rock band U2 presented the 360° Tour scoring the most-attended concert on the tour with a total attendance of 110,000 people.
- On 8 May 2012, Paul McCartney performed at the Estadio Azteca for the first time in his career, in a non-sold-out concert for 53,000 people. One of these shows was broadcast by Televisa (Canal 2).[21]
- On 16 April 2016, Vicente Fernández played his farewell concert, titled "UN AZTECA EN EL AZTECA, ADIÓS A UN GRANDE", to a sell out crowd at the stadium with an attendance of over 100,000 people.
Christian events
- Nigerian Pastor T.B. Joshua held a two-day Christian crusade, attracting an estimated 150,000 over both days.[22]
Funeral services
- The funeral of fellow Mexican comedian Roberto Gomez Bolaños known as Chespirito was held on 30 November 2014. Chespirito was a long-time fan of the stadium's main tenant Club América.
See also
References
- ^ http://www.worldofstadiums.com/north-america/mexico/estadio-azteca/
- ^ "Historia #5". stadiumdb.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "El Monumental le gana a la Bombonera como estadio más emblemático". 12 April 2013.
- ^ "StadiumDB: Estadio Azteca". Retrieved 5 September 2013.
- ^ a b "Mexico: Azteca to lose capacity again". stadiumdb.com. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
- ^ Longman, Jeré (10 August 2009). "In Mexico, a Soccer Stadium Where Visitors Gasp". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
The massive bowl, Estadio Azteca, sits in the southern part of this sprawling metropolis like a concrete sombrero. The stadium's mystique — especially its 105,000 spectators and its 7,200-foot altitude — will play an integral role Wednesday in a World Cup qualifying match between Mexico and the United States.
- ^ "Ranking the Top 10 Most Iconic Stadiums in World Football". Bleacherreport. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- ^ "Classic Stadium: Estadio Azteca". FIFA.com.
- ^ Smart, Tony. "10 of the world's best sports venues". CNN. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
- ^ Wilson, Steve. "World Soccer Stadiums". ESPN. Retrieved 4 June 2007.
- ^ Gordon, Aaron. "Mexico wins Mexican-American stadium war". Buzzfeed. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- ^ "Mexico's historical stadium". FIFA.com. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
- ^ 1968 Summer Olympics official report.[permanent dead link] Volume 2. Part 1. pp. 78–79.
- ^ "FIFA Senior Vice President Guillermo Cañedo has died". FIFA.com. Retrieved 21 January 1997.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Martínez, César. "Cañedo Whites go to TV Azteca". La Jornada. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
- ^ Rai, Asha (14 March 2014). "Estadio Azteca: Seasons in the Sun". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
- ^ "Estadio Azteca". Stadium Guide.
- ^ a b "Cowboys set regular season attendance record". Pro Football Hall of Fame. 21 August 2009. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ "Back to Mexico: Texans-Raiders to play Nov. 21 in Mexico City". NFL.com. 5 February 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
- ^ "Oakland Raiders Rally Past Houston Texans in Mexico City". New York Times. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ http://www.webcitation.org/68PkwyNx5?url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp
- ^ Elorriaga, Gerardo (7 June 2015). "El azote del maligno". Diario Sur (Spain).
Further reading
- "Magical memories live on in the vaunted Azteca" – fifaworldcup.com – FIFA
External links
19°18′10.48″N 99°9′1.59″W / 19.3029111°N 99.1504417°W
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by National Stadium
Tokyo |
Summer Olympics Football Men's Finals (Estadio Azteca) 1968 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Wembley Stadium
London |
FIFA World Cup Opening Venue 1970 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Wembley Stadium
London |
FIFA World Cup Final Venue 1970 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | FIFA World Cup Opening Venue 1986 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | FIFA World Cup Final Venue 1986 |
Succeeded by Stadio Olimpico
Rome |
| Preceded by Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles |
CONCACAF Gold Cup Final Venue 1993 |
Succeeded by Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles |
| Preceded by | FIFA Confederations Cup Final Venue 1999 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | CONCACAF Gold Cup Final Venue 2003 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by first venue
|
National Football League Host stadium of international regular season game San Francisco 49ers v. Arizona Cardinals 2 October 2005 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | FIFA U-17 World Cup Final Venue 2011 |
Succeeded by |
- Sports venues in Mexico City
- 1970 FIFA World Cup stadiums
- 1986 FIFA World Cup stadiums
- 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup stadiums
- CONCACAF Gold Cup stadiums
- Football venues in Mexico
- Club América
- National stadiums
- American Bowl venues
- 1968 Summer Olympic venues
- Olympic football venues
- Pan American Games opening ceremony stadiums
- Stadiums that have hosted a FIFA World Cup final match
- National Football League venues
- NFL International Series
- Sports venues completed in 1966
- American football venues in Mexico