Admittedly, Mexico is quite a seismically active place on earth, but this time it is not about any natural phenomena, but about a new home for the ‘Tigers’ of Monterrey. The construction of the successor to Estadio Universitario is due to be completed in 2025.

Tigres are undeniably one of the biggest football firms in all of North America, so plans for the club to move to a new venue should come as no surprise. Current Estadio Universitario fills to the last seat during important matches, which is why the 2019 Mexican champions need a stadium that will guarantee more matchday revenues and also become a multi-purpose arena that meets 21st-century requirements.

New stadium with a capacity of 65,000 will be built near the current one, and the old venue will be demolished upon the completion of the investment. The name of the facility is to be retained as the old stadium has been located in the center of the main university campus of the Nuevo Leon state for years. Until construction is scheduled to be completed in 2025, Tigres still have 3 years to play at the old Universitario.

© Populous

Thanks to the supporters from the north of the country, the arena is nicknamed "El Volcan", which only emphasises the great atmosphere that prevails there during Mexican League and CONCACAF Champions League matches. Fans from all over the world also owe a lot to the venue which opened in 1967. Here, for the first time in history, the so-called 'Mexican wave' was performed, which is present to this day in stadiums all over the world.

During construction, the designers' main goal will be to preserve Mexican traditions and the atmosphere of the current Universitario in the new stadium, as the architect Emiliano Cevallos points out. The Mexican emphasises that the fans will still be able to have a great time during a matchday, with the seats located as close to the pitch as possible.

As for the visual effect, Tigres supporters can rest assured. Populous is the architectural studio that designed, among others, London's Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In Mexico, its portfolio includes the stadium of the Tigres' derby rival, Monterrey CF.

© Populous

The private investment, which, according to various sources, will cost between $320 and $360 million, involves the adaptation of the facility (including the creation of a retractable pitch) to host competitions in other sports, as well as concerts, which play a significant role in the country’s entertainment industry.

The Governor of Nuevo Leon, Samuel Garcia, focuses his attention primarily on the best American football league (NFL), the matches of which are to take place in the new stadium in a few years time.

The venue is expected to be multifunctional right from the start. There are plans to create a hotel, a shopping centre, a restaurant and also classrooms for students of the University of Nuevo León. There will also be changing rooms for women and a room for the disabled people.

It is not yet known when the works will start as many important documents are still missing and other vital issues need to be resolved. These include the report on the environmental impact of the stadium and the right to use the university's land where the construction is to take place. Moreover, investors ready to cover the project costs have not yet been officially confirmed, and the detailed design of the stadium is still under preparation.

Author: Robert Saganowski

© Populous