Estadio Azteca

==History==
[[File:Mexico_stadium_1986.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Stadium in the year 1986]]

The Estadio Azteca was envisioned as a major sports venue during the presidency of [[Adolfo López Mateos]], when Mexico was awarded the [[1968 Summer Olympics]], where the football final was held. The stadium was designed by architects [[Pedro Ramírez Vázquez]] and [[Rafael Mijares Alcérreca]] and broke ground in 1961. The inaugural match was between [[Club América]] and [[Torino F.C.]] on 29 May 1966, with a capacity for 107,494 spectators. The first goal was scored by Brazilian [[Arlindo dos Santos Cruz|Arlindo Dos Santos]] and the second one by Brazilian [[José Alves]]; later, the Italians tied the game, which ended in 2–2 draw. Mexican president [[Gustavo Díaz Ordaz]] made the initial kick and [[FIFA]] president [[Sir Stanley Rous]] was the witness.

A modern illumination system was inaugurated on 5 June 1966, with the first night game played between Spanish side [[Valencia C.F.]] and [[Club Necaxa|Necaxa]]. The first goal of the match was scored by [[Honduras|Honduran]] [[José Cardona]] for Valencia. Roberto Martínez, aka Caña Brava, became the first Mexican to score a goal in the stadium after scoring for Necaxa. The result was a 3–1 victory for Valencia.

In 1978 the stadium hosted the final of the [[Copa Interamericana]] between América and [[Boca Juniors]] of [[Argentina]], and would host a final again in 1990 between América and [[Club Olimpia]] of [[Paraguay]].

[[File:Estadio_Azteca_(2011-09-25).jpg|left|250px|thumb|Picture taken on 25 September 2011 before a match between Club America and Club Tijuana.]]

The Estadio Azteca is also the site in which [[Pelé]] and [[Diego Maradona]] (during the [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]] and [[1986 FIFA World Cup]]) lifted the trophy for the last time (The [[FIFA World Cup Trophy#Jules Rimet Trophy|Jules Rimet Trophy]] and the current [[FIFA World Cup Trophy#FIFA World Cup Trophy|FIFA World Cup Trophy]], respectively).

Estadio Azteca has also been used for musical performances throughout its history. [[Michael Jackson]] (5 sold-out shows in 1993),<ref>{{cite web|title=Cronología Estadio Azteca|url=http://www.esmas.com/estadioazteca/quienes/|access-date=13 September 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816080659/http://www.esmas.com/estadioazteca/quienes/|archive-date=16 August 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Menudo (group)|Menudo]] (in 1983), [[U2]] (in 2006 and 2011), [[Luis Miguel]] (in 2002), [[Paul McCartney]] (in 2012 and 2017), [[Elton John]], [[Maná]], [[Juan Gabriel]], [[Gloria Estefan]], [[Jaguares (band)|Jaguares]], [[Lenny Kravitz]], [[*Nsync]], [[Hanson (band)|Hanson]], [[Ana Gabriel]], and [[The Three Tenors]] all have become part of the stadium's main spectacle. The stadium has also been used for political events, including Mexican president [[Felipe Calderón]]'s campaign closure in 2006, as well as religious events, such as Jehovah's Witnesses conventions and the appearance of Pope [[John Paul II]] in 1999.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pide Juan Pablo II "superar" deficiencias en el progreso social|url=http://www.jornada.unam.mx/1999/01/26/llama.html|access-date=12 October 2007}}</ref>

In April 2017, it was announced that starting July 2018, [[Cruz Azul]] would relocate to the Azteca on a temporary basis, due to the impending demolition of the [[Estadio Azul]].<ref name="ca2018">{{cite web|title=Mexico City: Cruz Azul to relocate to Azteca |url=http://stadiumdb.com/news/2017/04/mexico_city_cruz_azul_to_relocate_to_azteca |website=StadiumDB |access-date= 23 April 2017}}</ref>

The stadium is scheduled to host matches during the [[2026 FIFA World Cup]], including the opening match, in a tournament to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It will be the third time Azteca has hosted World Cup games; in [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]] and [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]], games also took place at the stadium.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/mexico/story/3524838/estadio-azteca-in-mexico-city-in-plans-to-open-2026-world-cup-decio-de-maria|title=Azteca in plans to host 2026 opener - De Maria|date=2018-06-13|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-07}}</ref>

===2015–19 renovation plans===
[[File:Azteca_zona_de_bancas.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Bench area and side stand]]
The stadium has undergone gradual improvements and renovations, including the replacing of seating within the stadium as well as the installation of electronic advertising boards. In May 2015, modern [[Panasonic]] LED panels were installed at the north and south ends of the stadium, replacing the phosphorous panels installed in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|title=Panasonic's LED Large Screen Displays Provide an All-New Fan Experience at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150608005673/en/Panasonics-LED-Large-Screen-Displays-Provide-All-New |work=[[Business Wire]] |publisher=Business Wire: A Berkshire Hathaway Company |date=8 June 2015 |access-date=28 July 2016}}</ref>

In February 2015, a vast renovation plan was unveiled with the intention that the completion of the project coincide with the stadium's 50th anniversary and with Club América's [[centenary]] in 2016, as well as the construction of a commercial hub outside the stadium to be completed some time in 2019. It was reported that [[Grupo Televisa]], owners of the stadium, approved a joint-venture bid from private development firms IQ Real Estate and Alhel. The hub, named "Foro Azteca", would reportedly consist of a mall, office spaces, two hotels, new leisure spaces, and parking spaces for 2,500 cars.<ref name="capacity2" /> The renovations to the stadium were planned in two phases: the first saw the demolition of the restaurant and seating at the lower east stand and the construction of a new hospitality area with dining and banqueting spaces, and the second saw the construction of new media boxes and private skyboxes at the upper west stand.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mexico: Azteca to lose capacity again |url=http://stadiumdb.com/news/2016/04/mexico_azteca_to_lose_capacity_again |website=StadiumDB.com |date=4 April 2016 |access-date=28 July 2016}}</ref> The renovations to the stadium were completed in November 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=El 'nuevo' Azteca |url=http://www.milenio.com/americano/estadio_azteca-nfl_mexico-oakland-raiders-houston-texans-milenio-la_aficion_0_839316453.html |trans-title=The 'new' Azteca |language=es |work=La Afición |date=11 January 2016 |publisher=Grupo Milenio |access-date=17 November 2016}}</ref> The seating capacity was ultimately reduced to 87,000 as a result of the renovations.