Everything about Estadio Azteca totally explained
Aztec Stadium is a
stadium in
Mexico City, Mexico used primarily for
football events. Its seating capacity of over 100,000 makes it the
third largest stadium in the world and the
largest in North America. It is the official home stadium of the
Mexico national football team and the Mexican team
Club América; and the former home ground of
CF Atlante,
Cruz Azul, and
Necaxa.
Aztec Stadium was the primary events for football (soccer) events during the
1968 Summer Olympics and is the only stadium ever to host two
FIFA World Cup final matches, in
1970 and
1986. It also hosted the 1986 quarter-final 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
Germany with scores of 4-3 in extra time.
History
Estadio Azteca opened in 1966 and was considered one of the most modern sports arena in the world at the time. The opening game was between
Club América and
Torino F.C. on May 26, 1966, with seats for 107,494 spectators. The first goal was scored was by
Brazilian Arlindo Dos Santos Cruz and the second one by Brazilian
José Alves "Zague", later the Italians tied the game and ended 2-2.
Gustavo Diaz Ordaz President of Mexico made the initial kick and Sir
Stanley Rous FIFA President was the witness.
A modern illumination system was inaugurated on June 5, 1966 with the first night game between
Valencia C.F. and Necaxa. The first goal of the game was scored by
Honduran José Cardona. In this game Roberto Martínez o Caña Brava scored the first goal made by a Mexican. The final score was 3-1 in favor of
Valencia C.F..
There is a
Commemorative plaque with the names of the first goal scorer in the first daylight match and in the first night game.
Aztec Stadium is also the site in which
Pelé, and
Diego Maradona (during the
1970 and
1986 FIFA World Cup), considered by many as the best football players of all time, lifted the trophy for the last time (The
Jules Rimet Trophy and the current
FIFA World Cup Trophy, respectively).
The stadium has also hosted international club tournaments such at the Copa InterAmericana and the
Copa Libertadores de América.
Aztec Stadium has also been used for musical performances throughout its history.
Michael Jackson (in 1993),
U2 (in 2006),,
Elton John,
Maná,
Juan Gabriel,
Luis Miguel,
Gloria Estefan,
Jaguares,
Lenny Kravitz,
Ana Gabriel,
The Three Tenors all have become part of the stadium's main spectacle. The stadium has also been used for political events, including Mexican president
Felipe Calderón's campaign closure in 2006, as well as religious events, like the appearance of Pope
John Paul II in 1999.
Notable events
Aztec Stadium has hosted to a variety of international sporting competitions, including:
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.
Tickets are available, up to kick-off times, from the ticket office which is located at the front of the stadium, just down the exit ramps from the Azteca station. Tickets start from as little as 50
pesos (5 U.S. Dollars as of 2007). For bigger matches such as Club América's games against Chivas de Guadalajara, Cruz Azul and
UNAM Pumas where sellouts are common, numerous touts circulate offering tickets at competitive prices.
Name and origin
The stadium is owned by Mexican TV consortium
Televisa. In order to avoid people associating the stadium's name with that of its competition
TV Azteca, Televisa officially changed the stadium's name to "Guillermo Cañedo", a top executive and long-time football advocate at Televisa. The change took place in early 1997, following Cañedo's death (January 20, 1997). However the change didn't go well with the general population, who generally refused to refer to the stadium by its alleged new name. Following a schism where two of Cañedo's sons, who worked at Televisa, switched camps and went to TV Azteca, Televisa quietly returned the stadium's name to its original version. Some people didn't even notice, as they usually referred to the stadium as "Azteca" (a tribute name to the
Aztec heritage of Mexico City); during the name change.
The stadium has been given the nickname of "Coloso de Santa Ursula" which, in English, means "Colossus of Santa Ursula", due to its large structure. Santa Ursula refers to the part of town where the stadium resides in Mexico City.
Monuments and Memorials
A
bronze plaque of Maradona's "
goal of the century" was placed outside the stadium. In addition, a monument memorializes the "
Game of the Century."
Further Information
Get more info on 'Estadio Azteca'.
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