Estadio Akron

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. The stadium hosted four group stage matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. History In February 2004, C.D. Guadalajara announced that it would construct a new stadium of its own, intending to leave Estadio Jalisco. After delays, construction on the stadium began in May 2007. 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. 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. 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. The replacement was complete by July. 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. 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 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. The stadium hosted four matches, all in the group stage, making it the only stadium to not host any knockout games. The venue also hosted Pathway 1 of the inter-confederation play-offs. Green space 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 director 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. International matches Mexico national football team 2026 FIFA World Cup inter-confederation play-offs 2026 FIFA World Cup Images References External links Official website