Estadio Luis "Pirata" Fuente – stadium description

What is Estadio Luis “Pirata” Fuente like in brief?

Estadio Luis “Pirata” Fuente was originally built in the 1960s and for decades served as the home ground of CD Veracruz (“Tiburones Rojos”). After the club was dissolved in 2019 due to financial problems, the stadium was left abandoned.

The authorities of the State of Veracruz, which owns the stadium, decided to take action and opted for a complete reconstruction of the venue, carried out between 2022 and 2025. Although the structure was built almost from scratch, the stadium retained most of the characteristics of its previous form.

The “new” stadium was reopened on 17 May 2025. Despite the investment, no new team has been brought to the venue, and as a result it remains largely unused.

What did the previous Estadio Luis “Pirata” Fuente look like?

Estadio Luis “Pirata” Fuente, located in the port city of Veracruz (although formally situated within the municipality of Boca del Río), was originally built between 1965 and 1967. The venue was initially known as Estadio Veracruzano and in 1981 was renamed after Luis de la Fuente (“El Pirata”), regarded as the greatest footballer to come from Veracruz.

The stadium had a capacity of just under 30,000 spectators, seated on two-tier stands forming a closed rectangular bowl around the pitch. In the final years before reconstruction, one of its most distinctive features were the unusual spectator entrances designed in the shape of a shark’s jaws.

For many years, the venue served CD Veracruz, also known as Tiburones Rojos (the Red Sharks). However, in late 2019 the Liga MX club was dissolved due to financial difficulties. In 2020, Atlético Veracruz briefly moved into the stadium, but it was soon left vacant again and gradually fell into disrepair.

How was the new Estadio Luis “Pirata” Fuente built?

In December 2022, at the initiative of the authorities of the State of Veracruz, who aimed to attract a professional team to relocate to the venue, a large-scale reconstruction of Estadio Luis “Pirata” Fuente began.

The existing stands were almost completely demolished and rebuilt from scratch. Despite the comprehensive redevelopment, the stadium largely retained its previous layout, with the stands reconstructed in a very similar form.

The most significant changes compared to the former appearance include additional structures in the corners, a membrane roof covering the stands along the touchlines, and a new external facade. Following the reconstruction, the stadium’s capacity was reduced by several thousand seats to approximately 22,500 spectators. The investment amounted to nearly 1.7 billion pesos.

When was the new Estadio Luis “Pirata” Fuente opened?

The reopening of what was effectively a brand-new stadium took place on 17 May 2025. As part of the inauguration, the venue hosted the finals of the Kings League and Queens League Americas (seven-a-side competitions), as well as a concert by Venezuelan artist Danny Ocean.

From 3 to 6 July 2025, the stadium also served as the venue for the friendly International Football Cup tournament. Despite the investment, the new Estadio Luis “Pirata” Fuente was not immediately taken over by a professional team.

What does the new Estadio Luis “Pirata” Fuente look like?

The stadium has a closed, rectangular seating layout and a capacity of 22,500 spectators. The stands are two-tiered, with the upper tier being significantly larger. The upper sections of the stands along the length of the pitch are covered by a white membrane roof. VIP boxes are located between the tiers and in special corner structures.

Individual seats have been installed throughout the stadium, but only the lower tier features seats with backrests. The corner “towers” also serve as lighting masts. Two large video screens are positioned behind the goals. On the exterior, the stands are shielded by a decorative facade mesh.

Estadio Luis “Pirata” Fuente is part of a larger sports complex, which also includes a baseball stadium, sports halls, and a swimming facility. The venue is located approximately 4 km south of Veracruz city center, formally within the municipality of Boca del Río.