Estadio Akron
 | |
.jpg) View from southeast in 2022 | |
 Interactive map of Estadio Akron | |
Former names | Estadio Omnilife (2010–16) Estadio Chivas (2016–17) Estadio Guadalajara (2026 FIFA World Cup) |
|---|---|
| Location | Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico |
| Coordinates | 20°40′54″N 103°27′46″W / 20.68167°N 103.46278°W |
| Elevation | 1,670 m (5,480 ft) AMSL[1] |
| Owner | Amaury Vergara |
| Capacity | 49,813[2] 45,664 (2026 FIFA World Cup) |
Executive suites | 133 |
| Surface | Natural grass (2012–present) Artificial turf (2010–2012) |
| Public transit |  Estadio Chivas |
| Construction | |
| Groundbreaking | February 2004 |
| Opened | 30 July 2010 |
Cost | US$200 million[3] ($295 million in 2025 dollars[4]) |
| Architect | Concept design: Jean Marie Massaud & Daniel Pouzet Sports architects: Populous (formerly HOK Sport) Architect of Record: VFO architects |
| Tenants | |
| C.D. Guadalajara (2010–present) Mexico national football team (selected matches) | |
| Website | |
| estadioakron.mx | |
Estadio Akron, formerly known as Estadio Omnilife and Estadio Chivas (Estadio Chivas, Spanish pronunciation: [esˈtaðjo ˈtʃiβas]), is a multipurpose stadium in Mexico, located in Zapopan, Jalisco, a suburb west of Guadalajara. Used mostly for football matches, it is the home of Liga MX side Guadalajara. The stadium is named for Grupo Akron, a Mexican lubricant and fuel company.
The stadium hosted its first major international event with the first leg of the 2010 Finals of the Copa Libertadores, and hosted the 2011 Pan American Games opening and closing ceremonies. The stadium's artificial field caused great controversy, drawing criticism from many notable players, and in May 2012, it was announced that the stadium would replace the artificial turf with natural grass.[5] The stadium hosted four group stage matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[6]
History
[edit]
In February 2004, C.D. Guadalajara announced that it would construct a new stadium of its own, intending to leave Estadio Jalisco.[7] After delays, construction on the stadium began in May 2007.[8]
The third public football match at the stadium was a friendly between Guadalajara and Manchester United on 30 July 2010. Guadalajara won the game 3–2, with the first goal at the stadium scored by Javier "Chicharito" Hernández playing for Guadalajara.[9] This match was held to represent Hernández's transfer from Guadalajara to Manchester United, with Hernández playing the first half for Guadalajara and switching sides to Manchester United in the second half, thus symbolically sealing his transfer contract that had been signed in March 2010.[10]
The stadium hosted eight matches of the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup, including a semifinal, between Uruguay and Brazil.
It was also the venue of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2011 Pan American Games, where it also hosted all the matches of both men's and women's football tournament.
In May 2012, following criticism regarding the artificial field, it was announced that the stadium would replace the artificial turf with natural grass.[11] The replacement was complete by July.[12]
In December 2017, the stadium changed its name from Estadio Omnilife to Estadio Akron, after signing a sponsorship deal with a car lubricants firm for 10 years.[13]
The venue hosted the Canelo Álvarez vs. John Ryder boxing fight in 2023.
The Weeknd performed during his After Hours til Dawn Tour on 25 October 2023.
Shakira performed during her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour on 16 and 17 March 2025.
2026 FIFA World Cup
[edit]
Estadio Akron hosted matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. During the event, the stadium was temporarily renamed to "Estadio Guadalajara" in accordance with FIFA's policy on corporate sponsored names.[14] The stadium hosted four matches, all in the group stage, making it the only stadium to not host any knockout games.[15] The venue also hosted Pathway 1 of the inter-confederation play-offs.
Green space
[edit].jpg)
The stadium complex has more than 7 hectares of dedicated green space and a "green skin" covering the outer edges of the stadium berm. This creates an architectural motif of a cloud over a volcano, hence the stadium's nickname as the "Volcano Stadium". Native species, like oak varieties, are used to evoke the flora of La Primavera forest. The intention is to extend the forest into the stadium complex from the nearby natural reserve.
The use of natural grass creates a distinctive architectural element extending around the entire berm of the stadium. This maintains a year-round green surface and helps manage maintenance costs. Rainwater is collected from the complex, including from the roof and playfield, and directed to a storage tank to be filtered for non-potable use. This system can collect and filter over 30,000 m3 (7,900,000 U.S. gal) a year, which is used for irrigation, cleaning bleachers, and flushing toilets. Wastewater is transported by a sewer system to the JVC Center's treatment plant and then used for the complex's irrigation and other non-potable uses. [16] [17]
International matches
[edit]Mexico national football team
[edit]| Date | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 September 2010 | Mexico  | 1–2 |  Ecuador | Friendly |
| 15 October 2024 | Mexico | 2–0 |  United States | |
| 14 October 2025 | Mexico | 1–1 | Ecuador | |
| 18 June 2026 | Mexico | 1–0 |  South Korea | 2026 FIFA World Cup |
2026 FIFA World Cup inter-confederation play-offs
[edit]| Date | Time | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 March 2026 | 21:00 | New Caledonia  | 0–1 |  Jamaica | 40,983 |
| 31 March 2026 | 15:00 | DR Congo  | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Jamaica | 39,983 |
2026 FIFA World Cup
[edit]| # | Date | Time | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Group | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 11 June 2026 | 20:00 | South Korea | 2–1 |  Czech Republic | Group A | 44,985 |
| 28 | 18 June 2026 | 19:00 | Mexico | 1–0 | South Korea | Group A | 45,522 |
| 48 | 23 June 2026 | 20:00 | Colombia  | 1–0 | DR Congo | Group K | 45,358 |
| 66 | 26 June 2026 | 18:00 | Uruguay  | 0–1 |  Spain | Group H | 45,065 |
Images
[edit]
References
[edit]- ↑ "What is my elevation".
- ↑ "2026 FIFA World Cup Bid Book" (PDF). p. 178. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
- ↑ "Las Chivas estrenan estadio con triunfo contra el Manchester" [Las Chivas premiere their new stadium with a triumph over Manchester] (in Spanish). El Mundo. 31 July 2010. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ↑ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ↑ Tovar, Sos (16 May 2012). "Chivas decide quitar el pasto artificial del estadio Omnilife" [Chivas decide to remove the artificial turf from Omnilife Stadium] (in Spanish). Huffington Post. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
- ↑ "View all FIFA World Cup 2026 fixtures and results". FIFA World Cup 2026. FIFA. 3 July 2026.
- ↑ Torres, José Antonio (6 February 2004). "Las Chivas tendrán nuevo estadio". La Nación (in Spanish).
- ↑ "Arranca la construcción del nuevo estadio de Chivas". 14 May 2007.
- ↑ "Las Chivas derrotan 3–2 al Manchester United" [Las Chivas defeat Manchester United 3–2]. La Jornada (in Spanish). Notimex. 30 July 2010. Archived from the original on 2 August 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
- ↑ Marshall, Tom (8 April 2010). "Manchester United to play Guadalajara at new stadium". Guadalajara Reporter. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
- ↑ "Coyote aplaude el cambio de superficie". ESPN Deportes. 16 May 2012.
- ↑ "El Estadio Omnilife, listo con pasto natural". Medio Tiempo. 19 July 2012.
- ↑ ""Estadio Akron", el nuevo nombre de la casa de Chivas". Proceso (in Spanish). 15 December 2017. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ↑ "The FIFA World Cup 2026™ stadiums". FIFA. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
- ↑ Bushnell, Henry (4 February 2024). "2026 World Cup schedule reveal: FIFA picks New York for final, Mexico for opener, West Coast for USMNT". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ↑ "Infraestructura" [Infrastructure]. Estadio Akron (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 July 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Guerrero, Samantha (4 July 2026). "Parece un volcán cubierto de pasto, pero es el estadio mexicano que se robó miles de miradas durante el Mundial" [It looks like a volcano covered in grass, but it's the Mexican stadium that stole thousands of glances during the World Cup]. Xataka Mexico (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 July 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
External links
[edit]
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Copa Libertadores Final Venues 2010 * Estádio Beira-Rio (Porto Alegre) |
Succeeded by TBA |
| Information | |
|---|---|
| Stadiums | |
| Teams and players | |
| Seasons | |
| Related topics | |
