Estadio Olímpico Universitario – stadium description

The structure was erected on a rough volcanic basis between 1950 and 1952. Its form also resembles a volcano with the sloping land around it being covered in magma stones. One the eastern part of the stadium shell there is a famous mural by Diego Rivera who planned to cover the whole stadium in similar art, but died before next phase.

Apart from its unconventional outer form it also has quite a unique story. When completed in 1952 it was the largest ground in Mexico with app. 70,000 capacity. Before 1968 Olympics it was raised further to 83,700 to comply with IOC’s requirement of exceeding 80,000 spectators. This however was done without substantial changes to the structure and reversed after the event, downsizing the ground. Which doesn’t mean it didn’t see crowds of “Olympic” size. During Mexico City derby between Pumas and Club America authorities allowed to overfill the stands which once had fatal results – people in one of the tunnels leading to the stands were suffocating and a number died.

Apart from the Olympics and football games the stadium plays host to very popular in Mexico American football matches. And the list of large sporting events goes on and on: Central American Games (1954, 1990), Panamerican Games (1955, 1975), Universiade (1979) and games of the 1986 World Cup as well.

Since 2007 the stadium along with other buildings of the UNAM campus is listed by UNESCO as important part of World’s cultural heritage.