Cruz Azul presented a preview of its new stadium. Just a couple of days before they face Club America in the final of the Mexican soccer league, a match highly anticipated by fans.
The first leg of the final between Club América and Cruz Azul will take place on Thursday, May 23 at 8:00 PM at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, an old venue that is nearly 80 years old.
Since its foundation in 1927, Cruz Azul has been one of the most emblematic and beloved clubs in Mexico. Throughout its history, it has achieved numerous successes and has built a base of passionate and loyal fans in the Liga MX.
However, one of the club’s major shortcomings has been the lack of its own stadium. This dream has been on the minds of Cruz Azul fans for decades, and now, it finally seems to be becoming a reality.
A few weeks ago, the club’s president, Víctor Velázquez, informed during an interview with ESPN that they estimate an investment of approximately 300 to 350 million dollars, about 6.3 billion pesos at the current exchange rate.
This amount would surpass the steel giant, Estadio BBVA Bancomer, home of Monterrey’s Rayados, which was built over a four-year period with an investment of 200 million dollars.
On May 21, through his Twitter account, the president of Club Cruz Azul shared a video showing for the first time what the new Estadio Azul will look like.
Les comparto un adelanto del proyecto arquitectónico para la construcción del nuevo estadio de @CruzAzul. Queremos que nuestros socios, trabajadores y aficionados tengan su propia casa. #AzulDePorVida #NuestraRefundación pic.twitter.com/vkdJyVS54I
— Víctor Velázquez (@Victor_VelRan) May 22, 2024
Will other brands participate in the new Estadio Azul?
It’s too early to tell. What we do know is that the property will be entirely owned by the Cooperativa La Cruz Azul.
“Yes, it will be entirely owned by Cruz Azul, and the owner of the stadium will be the Cooperativa La Cruz Azul,” said the club’s president during his conversation with ESPN.
It should be noted that La Máquina is the Liga MX club with the fewest sponsors. According to data from Jump Sports Marketing Solutions, Cruz Azul only has sponsorship from three brands: Pirma, Cementos Cruz Azul, and Grupo Caliente.
It should be considered that Pirma is the company responsible for the team’s uniforms and Cementos Cruz Azul is the company that owns the club.
However, it is not ruled out that eventually some brands could participate with sponsorships of some areas of the property. This occurs, for example, with the Arena Ciudad de México.
This will be the new Estadio Azul
The new stadium will not only be a facility to host soccer matches but will also be a multifunctional sports and entertainment complex.
Velázquez detailed that the project includes facilities for the club’s youth teams, which will allow the development of new generations of footballers in an optimal environment. Additionally, the construction of a shopping center and possibly a hotel is planned, which will make the stadium a constant point of attraction and activity, preventing it from becoming a “white elephant” during the weekdays.
Where will the new Estadio Azul be located?
According to journalistic reports, the Cruz Azul stadium will be located in the municipality of Tlalnepantla, on the border of CDMX and the State of Mexico.
The new stadium would have a capacity for 45,000 spectators, which would make it one of the largest stadiums in the country.
The construction of the stadium is expected to begin this year, with an estimated duration of two years for its completion. This means that the stadium could be ready to be inaugurated after the 2026 World Cup.
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Who is Luis Fernández de Ortega, the architect who will build the stadium?
Luis Fernández de Ortega has over 30 years of experience in the design and construction of major works and sports infrastructure.
Fernández de Ortega is a founding partner of the Mexican firm VFO Arquitectos and has worked on projects as significant as the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey and the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara.
The choice of Fernández de Ortega ensures that the new Cruz Azul stadium will not only be modern and functional but will also have an innovative and attractive design.
His experience in creating some of Mexico’s most iconic stadiums ensures that the new home of La Máquina will meet the expectations of the fans and the club itself.
Cruz Azul fans have reasons to be excited. La Máquina is in the semifinals of the Clausura 2024, and the promise of a new stadium adds another reason to celebrate. The future looks promising.
