Estadio Akron facts for kids
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Stadium's exterior
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| Former names | Estadio Omnilife (2010–16) Estadio Chivas (2016–17) |
|---|---|
| Location | Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico |
| Coordinates | 20°40′54″N 103°27′46″W / 20.68167°N 103.46278°W |
| Owner | Amaury Vergara |
| Executive suites | 315 |
| Capacity | 49,850 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | February 2004 |
| Opened | July 30, 2010 |
| Construction cost | US$200 million |
| Architect | Jean Marie Massaud & Daniel Pouzet Populous VFO architects |
| Tenants | |
| C.D. Guadalajara (2010–present) | |
The Estadio Akron is a large stadium in Zapopan, Mexico. It is close to the city of Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco. This stadium is mainly used for football (soccer) games.
It is the home stadium for the Liga MX team C.D. Guadalajara, also known as Chivas. The stadium can hold 49,850 people. Building the stadium started in 2004. It took several years to finish because of different challenges.
The Estadio Akron hosted its first big international event in 2010. This was a final match for the Copa Libertadores football tournament. It also hosted the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2011 Pan American Games. The stadium's playing field was first made of artificial turf. Many players did not like this. So, in 2012, it was changed to natural grass. The stadium is also set to host some matches for the exciting 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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Stadium History
In February 2004, the football team C.D. Guadalajara announced a big plan. They wanted to build their own new stadium. This meant they would leave their old home, Estadio Jalisco. Construction on the new stadium officially began in May 2007.
The third public football game at the stadium was a friendly match. It was played on July 30, 2010. The game was between Guadalajara and the famous English team, Manchester United. Guadalajara won the match 3–2. The very first goal scored at the stadium was by Javier "Chicharito" Hernández. He scored it while playing for Guadalajara. This game was special because it marked Hernández's move to Manchester United. He played the first half for Guadalajara and then switched to Manchester United for the second half.
The stadium was also a host for the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup. It held 8 matches during this tournament. One of these was an important semifinal game. It was played between the under-17 teams of Uruguay and Brazil.
In addition, the stadium was the main place for the 2011 Pan American Games. It hosted both the opening and closing ceremonies. All the men's and women's football matches for the games were also played here.
In May 2012, a big change happened. Many people had complained about the artificial grass field. So, it was decided that the stadium would get natural grass instead. The new grass field was ready by July of that year.
In December 2017, the stadium changed its name. It went from Estadio Omnilife to Estadio Akron. This happened after a company that makes car lubricants signed a 10-year sponsorship deal.
The stadium has also hosted other events. In 2023, it was the location for a major boxing match. This fight was between Canelo Álvarez and John Ryder.
Hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The Estadio Akron will be one of the stadiums for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This is a huge international football event. During the World Cup, the stadium will have a different name. It will be called "Estadio Guadalajara." This is because FIFA has a rule about not using company names during the tournament.
International Football Matches
The Estadio Akron has hosted games for the Mexican national football team.
| Date | Team 1 | Result | Team 2 | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 September 2010 | Mexico  |
1–2 |  Ecuador |
Friendly |
Images for kids
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Side view of the stadium
See also
In Spanish: Estadio Akron para niños
