The Estadio BBVA Bancomer is a football stadium located in the suburbs of Guadalupe towards the south-east of Monterrey metropolitan area in Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
It serves as the new home stadium of C.F. Monterrey in the Liga MX since 2015. It replaced the Estadio Tecnologico, where Monterrey played as the home team for more than 63 years.
A modern world-class stadium, the stadium represents Monterrey’s heritage and future, while challenging the expectations of what the Latin American football stadium experience can be. The stadium has a self-supporting tripodal structure, with the facade having “gills” to allow air to flow in and out of the stadium.
The stadium’s metallic armature cladding which makes it look like an armadillo, is purposefully sculptural in form and is a tribute to Monterrey’s industrial heritage, as steel mills used to thrive in the region. Hence, the nickname “El Gigante de Acero” (The Steel Giant).
The roof arches low towards the south of the stadium, allowing the spectators a stunning view of the Cerro de la Silla mountain.
Estadio BBVA Bancomer stadium has a capacity of 51,348, with 324 skyboxes. The authentic grass pitch is placed at the minimum distance allowed by FIFA from the stands, letting the fans experience the action at close distance.
History
The planning of the construction of a new stadium was done back in 2008, but the construction started only in 2011. Completion of the stadium was delayed and the entire construction took four years, but it was completed just in time for the club’s 70th anniversary, in July 2015.
The stadium was a privately-funded joint venture between the club and their owners FEMSA, one of Mexico’s largest companies and beverage giants. It was designed by the architectural firm Populous and the construction was mainly done by three companies. The entire project cost was totalled at 2.3 billion Mexican Pesos.
The first match to be played at the Estadio BBVA Bancomer was the Eusebio Cup match between SL Benfica of Portugal and Monterrey on 2nd August 2015, which C.F. Monterrey won 3-0.
Major Matches
The stadium being only two years old lacks only in its share of major matches played, and has only hosted Liga MX and Copa MX matches.
Controversy
The construction of the stadium was delayed because of the protests regarding the effects on wildlife on a local scale at the old protected state natural area, La Pastora forest, because of the project.
The fate of the La Silla river was also endangered as the stadium would take up a quarter of the La Pastora Parque’s 100 hectares and promote flooding in the region. The project was allowed to go forward and commence construction after almost three years, getting the nod from the local and federal authorities in August 2011.
