From cattle ranch to a high-tech icon of Mexican entertainment
In short: The site of the Mexico City Arena was once the Old Ferreria Cattle Ranch. Today, it stands as a 300-million-dollar marvel of engineering, featuring some of the world's largest LED displays and serving as a premier hub for global sports and music.
Construction on this 8-hectare site began in March 2009 under the supervision of Mayor Marcelo Ebrard. The project was designed by KMD Architects Mexico and AVALANZ Group, with the goal of creating an urban icon that would modernize Mexico's entertainment infrastructure. It was positioned as a successor to the Palacio de los Deportes, which had served the city since the 1968 Summer Olympics.
To achieve a height of 45 metres, construction involved using 25,000 tons of reinforced steel, 5,000 tons of structural steel, and 100,000 cubic meters of concrete. A defining feature of the arena is its visual technology; it houses an outdoor LED screen covering 6,200 square meters and a centerhung indoor screen of 700 square meters, making them among the largest displays globally.
The venue has faced unique hurdles since its official opening on February 25, 2012. A fire caused by a generator malfunction in December 2013 forced the cancellation of an NBA game between the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite this, the arena has become a staple for international tours like Disney On Ice and various UFC pay-per-view events, while also hosting major cultural milestones like the Miss Universe pageant.
While it can accommodate up to 22,300 spectators, its role in professional basketball is nuanced. The Mexico City Capitanes of the NBA G League began playing there in the 2022–23 season but are currently limited to an 8,000-fan capacity due to the league's standing. It remains a centerpiece for Mexican wrestling, hosting Triplemanía since its twentieth edition in 2012.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Mexico City Arena
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-mexico-city-arena.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
