Stadium in Mexico City races against time for reopening before World Cup
Workers are hammering, cranes are swinging, and seats are being bolted into place—yet time is crucial. Mexico City’s renowned Azteca stadium, now transformed into Estadio Banorte, is in a hurried effort to prepare for its grand reopening on Saturday.
Drone footage captured crews diligently installing seats and affixing the new stadium name to the facade, with cranes towering above just 48 hours before the gates are set to open for a high-profile friendly match between Mexico and Portugal.
For residents, the rapid pace of construction has done little to instill confidence. “I know they are working practically seven days a week, 24 hours a day, trying to finish it,” local resident Emilio Castrejon told Reuters. “However, what I’ve been told is that completing it is quite complicated for them.”
This year’s World Cup, co-hosted by Mexico, the U.S., and Canada, will feature five matches at the venue, along with the opening ceremony on June 11.
The stadium will make history as the first to host matches in three World Cups, having previously done so in 1970 and 1986.
Numerous renovations
The renovation work has encompassed new seating, upgraded locker rooms, improved lighting, enhanced digital infrastructure, and a reconstructed pedestrian bridge connecting the light-rail station and bus terminal in the nearby Huipulco neighborhood.
The roads and sidewalks in the surrounding area have been repaved and modernized.
The project has faced numerous delays since its inception. Resident Elizabeth Herrera recognized the disturbance but highlighted more profound frustrations.
“I can see why the neighbors might be annoyed,” she remarked. “What I find unappealing is that it felt quite hurried.” They had been aware for quite some time that certain World Cup matches would take place here, and there was ample opportunity to prepare for it.
Nonetheless, some individuals maintain a more optimistic outlook. Ana Dominguez expressed that the wider changes in the area instilled a sense of hope in her. “It provides me with greater security,” she stated. Renovations can be quite challenging, even within our own homes, as they often require significant time, effort, and resources to manage effectively. A renovation presents its challenges, yet once completed, the transformation becomes evident, often leading to increased comfort and functionality in the living space. I chose to sit here in the garden to envision the outcome. This was a place where walking through was far from comfortable, with not just drugs but also street stands present.
The stadium has successfully completed its final audio and video tests in the presence of football authorities — a significant milestone affirming its preparedness. Saturday’s match against Portugal will serve as the definitive examination of our capabilities.
A banner hung near the stadium proclaimed, “The ball returns home.”
The readiness of home remains, currently, an open question.
