Estadio Akron

The Estadio Akron, formerly known as the Estadio Omnilife and Estadio Chivas (Estadio Chivas, Spanish pronunciation: [esˈtaðjo ˈtʃiβas]), is a multipurpose stadium that is used mostly for football matches. It is the home of Liga MX side C.D. Guadalajara. It is part of the JVC complex, and has a capacity of 49,850. Construction started in February 2004, but due to financial problems and other issues, the stadium's completion was delayed for a number of years.

Estadio Akron
Stadium's exterior
Former namesEstadio Omnilife (2010–16)
Estadio Chivas (2016–17)
LocationZapopan, Jalisco, Mexico
Coordinates20°40′54″N 103°27′46″W
OwnerJorge Vergara
Executive suites315
Capacity49,850 (total capacity for football)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke groundFebruary 2004
OpenedJuly 30, 2010
Construction costUS$200 million[1]
($234 million in 2019 dollars[2])
ArchitectConcept Design:
Jean Marie Massaud & Daniel Pouzet
Sports Architects:
Populous (formerly HOK Sport)
Architect of Record:
VFO architects
Tenants
Guadalajara (2010–present)

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.[3]

History
Inaugural match of the Omnilife Stadium vs. Manchester United

In February 2004, C.D. Guadalajara announced that it would construct a new stadium of its own, intending to leave Estadio Jalisco.[4] Construction on the stadium did not begin until May 2007.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7]

The stadium hosted 8 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 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.[8]

Matches

Mexico national football team
Date Result Competition
4 September 2010Mexico 1–2 EcuadorFriendly
Guadalajara, Mexico
side view

References
  1. "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.
  2. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  3. 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.
  4. Torres, José Antonio (6 February 2004). "Las Chivas tendrán nuevo estadio". La Nación (in Spanish).
  5. "Arranca la construcción del nuevo estadio de Chivas". 14 May 2007.
  6. "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 August 2, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
  7. 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.
  8. ""Estadio Akron", el nuevo nombre de la casa de Chivas". Proceso (in Spanish). 15 December 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
Preceded by
Estádio do Maracanã
Rio de Janeiro		 Pan American Games
Opening and Closing Ceremonies
2011		 Succeeded by
Rogers Centre
Toronto
Events and tenants
Preceded by
Estadio Ciudad de La Plata (La Plata)
—————————————————————
Mineirão (Belo Horizonte)		 Copa Libertadores
Final Venues
2010
*
Estádio Beira-Rio (Porto Alegre)		 Succeeded by
TBA
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