In summer 2016, Mexico City authorities announced plans to demolish the stadium would begin at the end of the 2017-2018 Liga MX season. However, in July 2018, the demolition project was put on hold. In the 2023–24 Liga MX season, Cruz Azul returned to the stadium.
Both times Mexico hosted the World Cup, Estadio Azul did not host matches mainly due to the age of the structure, bad parking facilities, and complex traffic patterns. A peculiarity of this stadium is that it is built as a pit with the playing field is below street level. Just beside the stadium is the Plaza México, the world's largest bullring.[3][4]
On 2 November 2024, local authorities closed the stadium indefinitely due to a lack of required safety certifications and issues with the stadium's infrastructure.[5] The closure caused scheudle disruptions for Club América, Atlante, and Cruz Azul. The stadium reopened on 7 November with new regulations such as an increase in security personnel at both the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes and the Plaza de Toros, promotion of public transport to reach the venues, and the prohibition of holding two events on the same day.[6] Atlante announced they would move to Estadio Agustín "Coruco" Díaz in Zacatepec, Morelos.[7]
Gallery
Exterior from a side street
Stadium (right) from the air
Interior from concourse
Interior from east section A
Logo under former name
Infrastructure
Following the arrival of Cruz Azul, there have been many renovations to make the stadium safer, more comfortable, and appropriate to the needs of fans. Among these amenities are:
Two professional football locker rooms
Two locker rooms for referees
A press conference room with seating capacity for 50 people
A closed-circuit video system including seventy cameras
Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes holds 34,253 people, including 92 boxes.
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