Nuevo Estadio Universitario – design description

What gave impetus to plans to build a new stadium for Tigres UANL?

In 2015, Estadio BBVA, the new venue of club CF Monterrey, the derby rival of the Tigres UANL team, opened. This has reignited discussions about the construction of a new stadium for the Tigres team, which has so far played at Estadio Universitario.

What does the current stadium of the Tigres UANL club look like?

Estadio Universitario was inaugurated on May 30, 1967 and is located next to the campus of the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, within the boundaries of San Nicolás de los Garza which is part of the Monterrey metropolitan area. The stadium has a capacity of 42,000 spectators.

Among other events, the Estadio Universitario hosted the 1986 World Cup matches. The stadium is considered by many to be the birthplace of the so-called 'Mexican wave' and is nicknamed 'El Volcán'. Matches involving Tigres UANL are regularly sold out and the venue is known for its passionate atmosphere.

What ideas for a new stadium for Tigres UANL have been considered?

At the beginning of 2016, an initial concept was created, according to which the new Tigres stadium would have a capacity of 80,000 spectators. In the following months, the location of the future venue was considered, and the possibility of redeveloping Estadio Universitario was also taken into account.

At the end of 2017, the concept for the new stadium was presented, which was to be built 5.5 km north of the existing Tigres facility. The project was an initiative of the developer, Grupo Inmobiliario Monterrey, which intended to create an entire complex with a shopping center and other commercial functions. The project was named Estadio Insignia, but these plans were not realised.

When was the current concept for a new stadium for Tigres UANL conceived?

On October 4, 2021, Samuel García, who was a Tigres supporter and had promised in his campaign to bring about the construction of a new stadium for the club, took office as governor of the state of Nuevo León. The creation of the architectural concept was entrusted to the renowned Populous studio, which had previously worked on the Estadio BBVA project, among others.

On January 13, 2022, a press conference was held to present the concept for the new stadium. The governor of the state was present at the conference, as well as representatives of a number of entities linked to the project to build the new arena: the university (UANL), the Tigres club, the manager of the Estadio Universitario (Sinergia Deportiva), the Populous studio and the Juego de Pelota company, which was to manage the project.

When will the new stadium for Tigres UANL be built?

Despite the presentation of the concept and the declaration of the construction of the stadium, not much was done about it over the next year. One of the main stipulations of the project was that it was to be financed with private funds, meanwhile the initiative's creators struggled to find an investor willing to put up the money for the construction, which was expected to cost 8.2 billion pesos.

In February 2023, however, Samuel García once again announced the construction of the stadium, and the next step was to have the club take over the land for construction and lease it. This was successfully approved at the end of May 2023, with the lease to run for a period of 45 years, with an option to extend for a further 15 years.

Originally, the new stadium was supposed to be ready in 2025, but the deadline was later pushed back to 2026. Given that there are still no concrete details on the construction, the completion date remains unknown. Once the new stadium opens, the old Estadio Universitario is to be demolished.

What will the new Estadio Universitario be like?

The new stadium is to be built right next to the old Estadio Universitario, taking up part of the parking spaces to the west of the existing stadium. It is to be a typical football venue, with stands capable of holding 65,000 spectators. The stadium is intended to be a symbol of modernity, while still referring to the traditions of its predecessor. It is also intended to be sustainable.

The stands of the new Estadio Universitario will be covered and will be divided into several levels. The stadium will have VIP/hospitality areas and sizable screens. The larger capacity will allow for a more diverse offering, and a pool of low-cost tickets will also be available, making attending events accessible to everyone.

The stadium will be equipped with a system that will allow the pitch to be split into sections and tucked under the east stand, so that the turf will not have to be exploited during non-football events. The idea is that the facility will attract a variety of sporting and non-sporting events, including even the occasional NFL games.

The facility will include shops, offices, hotel rooms and classrooms for students from the nearby university. The stadium will be wheelchair-accessible, with specially designated areas in the stands for people with disabilities. The new Estadio Universitario will also feature additional changing rooms, dedicated to the Tigres women's team.