Nemesio Diez Stadium

Nemesio Diez Stadium (Estadio Nemesio Diez), sometimes referred to as La Bombonera (The Chocolate Box), for its resemblance, is an association football stadium located in Toluca, State of Mexico, Mexico. Opened on 8 August 1954, the stadium has a capacity of 30,000 and serves as the home of Liga MX club Toluca FC and Liga MX Femenil club Toluca FC (women). It is one of the oldest football stadiums in Mexico. The stadium has hosted matches at the 1970 and 1986 FIFA World Cups, the 1975 Pan American Games, the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship, and the 1990 Central American and Caribbean Games. The stadium sits at an altitude of roughly 8,750 feet (2,670 m) above sea level, one of the highest altitude stadiums in North America. The playing field is oriented from east to west, the only professional stadium in the country located in that position. The stadium was remodeled in 2017, which brought the stadium up to modern standards, expanding the capacity to 30,000 spectators, and adding technology with additional support for screens and ambient sound, all the while preserving the English style that has characterized it, such as the proximity to the playing field. History Origins In its earliest years following the club's foundation in 1917, Deportivo Toluca played on a dirt field located on the old Colón Avenue (now Paseo Colón). This initial venue featured small wooden stands, a section of which was covered specifically to shield female spectators from the sun and rain. In 1919, the club acquired the "Presa de Gachupines" grounds from Francisco Negrete, later moving matches to the "Tívoli" field near the Verdiguel River, and subsequently alternating with "Campo Patria." This ground was located between Aurelio Venegas, Morelos Poniente, Felipe Villanueva, and Constituyentes streets. During Toluca's second year in the Segunda División, Campo Patria became the team's exclusive home ground, leading to the upgrade of its stands and the installation of perimeter fencing. In 1953, the club's board formally purchased the land, securing permanent ownership of the site to begin construction of their own dedicated stadium. Following extensive renovations, the venue was officially inaugurated on August 8, 1954. The stadium was inaugurated on Sunday 8 August 1954, with a match between Toluca and Yugoslavian team Dinamo Zagreb. The game was won by Dinamo 4–1. The only goal for Toluca and also the first in the history of the stadium was scored by Enrique Sesma. Initially, the stadium was opened as Estadio Club Deportivo Toluca. That name lasted until 1955, when it was changed to Estadio Héctor Barraza. Other names the stadium has had are: Estadio Luis Gutiérrez Dosal (1959–1970), Estadio Toluca 70 (1970–1986), Estadio Toluca 70–86 (1986–2000), and it was also popularly known as "La Bombonera". After the death of Nemesio Díiez Riega, president and then owner of the club, in June 2000, the stadium name was changed to Nemesio Diez Stadium. The Nemesio Diez Stadium has hosted multiple Liga MX finals, including the Verano 1998, Verano 1999, Verano 2000, Invierno 2000, Apertura 2002, Apertura 2006, Apertura 2008, Bicentenario 2010, Apertura 2012, Clausura 2018, and Clausura 2025 championship series. International events FIFA World Cups The stadium was used as a venue for two FIFA World Cup tournaments hosted by Mexico: During the 1970 FIFA World Cup, it hosted group-stage matches and one quarter-final match. During the 1986 FIFA World Cup, it hosted three group-stage matches. In addition to international football competitions, the stadium has hosted events of international significance, serving as a venue for the 1975 Pan American Games, the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship, and the 1990 Central American and Caribbean Games. Renovation Remodelation project The comprehensive renovation of Nemesio Diez Stadium, carried out between 2015 and 2017 as part of Club Deportivo Toluca's centennial celebrations, cost between MXN$1.5 billion and MXN$1.6 billion. The project was initially announced with a lower budget, but additional work on several areas of the stadium increased the final investment significantly. Within the Nemesio Diez, four macro support columns that will sustain the stadium structure will be built to replace the current columns obstructing visibility. In the shadow stands, a second level will be built so the capacity, which currently stands at 22,000 will increase to 30,000. The project also includes four giant screens at each end of the building, replacement of all seats and a sunroof in the preferred (shaded) section, to assist in the process of maintaining the natural grass in the field. During the stadium's renovation, an adjacent parking structure with capacity for approximately 1,500 vehicles was built and connected to the venue through pedestrian bridges over Felipe Villanueva Avenue. The stadium features a technological security infrastructure that includes high-definition surveillance cameras and facial recognition technology linked to an internal command center. Based on this system, development firm Seguritech classified the venue as the most secure stadium in Mexico. Opening and inauguration The remodeled stadium officially opened on January 15, 2017, with a league match against Club America. The first goal was scored by Gabriel Hauche for Toluca with a screamer outside of the box. Toluca FC won that match 2–1. The stadium was completed in the summer 2017 where it had been confirmed that the club would play against Atlético Madrid for the official inauguration of the remodeled stadium. On February 20, 2017, the stadium was officially re-inaugurated following a major renovation to celebrate the centenary of Club Deportivo Toluca, although the team had already played its first official match in the renovated venue on January 15 against América. The official ceremony was attended by the then President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, alongside club owner Valentín Díez Morodo. Later developments The stadium has also gained international recognition, as it was chosen as the "Second Best Stadium in the World 2017" in the remodeled category, according to public voting conducted by StadiumDB in the same year. After the 2014–2017 renovation, the stadium incorporated new areas such as the Tribuna Diablos supporters' section and the premium area The Club 1917. In October 2024, the stadium debuted a new state-of-the-art LED lighting system in a match against Cruz Azul. During the 2024 Apertura, Deportivo Toluca Fútbol Club had an attendance rate of 94.9%. According to ESPN, during the 2025 Clausura, the club has 23,000 season ticket holders out of a capacity of 30,000. Premium hospitality areas In addition to its regular seating areas, Nemesio Diez Stadium features several premium hospitality spaces. These include the Salón Victoria and Club 1917, VIP areas operated by Deportivo Toluca. The stadium also includes the VID section. In 2026, the venue expanded its premium offerings with Salón VID+. Attendance During the last five Liga MX tournaments, Deportivo Toluca Fútbol Club has recorded the highest average attendance in the league, reaching approximately 94% occupancy at Nemesio Diez Stadium, according to league-wide statistical analysis. Finals matches played In total, several definitive matches for official titles have been played at the venue featuring Deportivo Toluca as the home team, distributed among Liga MX, Copa México, Campeón de Campeones, and the CONCACAF Champions Cup. This makes it one of the stadiums with the highest activity in championship series within Mexican football. Liga MX Copa México and Campeón de Campeones International Tournaments (CONCACAF) International matches 1970 FIFA World Cup 1975 Pan American Games * Canada withdrew from the tournament; matches were awarded as 3–0 victories for the opponents. 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship 1986 FIFA World Cup 1990 Central American and Caribbean Games Mexico national football team International club matches Copa Libertadores Sources: Copa Sudamericana Source: Copa Merconorte Source: See also List of football stadiums in Mexico References External links Official website