Monterrey

Monterrey(/ˌmɒntəˈreɪ/MON-tə-RAY,Spanish:[monteˈrej])is the capital and largest city of the northeastern state ofNuevo León, Mexico. It is the ninth-largest city and the second largest metropolitan area, afterGreater Mexico City.Located at the foothills of theSierra Madre Oriental, Monterrey is a major business and industrial hub in North America, and the most populous city innorthern Mexico.
The city anchors theMonterrey metropolitan area, the second-largest in Mexico with an estimated population of 5,341,171 people as of 2020 and it is also the second-most productive metropolitan area in Mexico with a GDP (PPP) of US$140 billion in 2015. According to the 2020 census, Monterrey itself has a population of 1,142,194.
Monterrey is considered one of the most livable cities in Mexico, and a 2018 study ranked the suburb of San Pedro Garza García as the city with the best quality of life in the country.It serves as a commercial center of northern Mexico and is the base of many significant international corporations. Itspurchasing power parity-adjusted GDP per capita is considerably higher than the rest of Mexico's at around US$35,500, compared to the country's US$18,800.It is considered aBeta World City,cosmopolitan and competitive.Rich in history and culture, it is one of the most developed cities in Mexico.
The uninterrupted settlement of Monterrey began with its founding by Diego de Montemayor in 1596. Following theMexican War of Independence, the city grew into a key business hub. The city experienced great industrial growth following the establishment of theMonterrey Foundryin 1900. it holds prominent positions in industries such as steel, cement, glass, auto parts, and brewing. The city's economic success has been partly attributed to its proximity to theUnited States-Mexico borderand strong economic ties with the United States.
The city is named afterGaspar de Zúñiga, 5th Count of Monterrey, who was viceroy of New Spain from 1595 to 1603. His family originated inMonterrei, Galicia, Spain.
Before the European foundation of the city, there was no established nation-state, and the population consisted of some indigenousnomadgroups.Carved stoneandcave paintingin surrounding mountains and caves have allowed historians to identify four major groups in present-day Monterrey:Azalapas,Huachichiles,CoahuiltecosandBorrados.
In the 16th century, the valley in which Monterrey sits was known as theExtremadura Valley, an area largely unexplored by the Spanish colonizers. The first expeditions and colonization attempts were led by conquistadorAlberto del Canto, who named the citySanta Lucia, but they were unsuccessful because the Spanish were attacked by the natives and fled. The Spanish expeditionaryLuis Carvajal y de la Cuevanegotiated withKing Philip IIof Spain to establish a territory in northernNew Spainthat would be calledNuevo León, the "New Kingdom of León". In 1580, he arrived in the newly granted lands but it was not until 1582 that he established a settlement calledSan Luis Rey de Francia(named forSaint Louis IX of France) within present-day Monterrey. The New Kingdom of León extended westward from the port ofTampicoto the limits ofNueva Vizcaya("New Biscay", now State ofChihuahua), and around 1,000 kilometers northward. For eight years Nuevo León was abandoned and uninhabited, until a third expedition of 13 families led by conquistadorDiego de Montemayorfounded theCiudad Metropolitana de Nuestra Señora de Monterrey("Metropolitan City of Our Lady of Monterrey") on September 20, 1596, next to a water spring calledOjos de Agua de Santa Lucia, where the Museum of Mexican History andSanta Lucía riverwalkare now.
During the years of Spanish rule, Monterrey remained a small city, and its population varied from a few hundred to only dozens. The city facilitated trade betweenSan Antonio(now in Texas),Tampicoand fromSaltilloto the center of the country. Tampico's port brought many products from Europe, while Saltillo concentrated the Northern Territories' trade with the capital,Mexico City. San Antonio was the key trade point with the northern foreign colonies (British and French).
In the 19th century, after theMexican Independence War, Monterrey rose as a key economic center for the newly formed nation, especially due to its balanced ties between Europe (with its connections to Tampico), the United States (with its connections to San Antonio), and the capital (through Saltillo). In 1824, the "New Kingdom of León" became the State ofNuevo León, and Monterrey was selected as its capital. But the political instability that followed the first 50 years of the new country allowed two American invasions and an internal secession war, during which the governor of the state annexedCoahuilaandTamaulipasstates, designating Monterrey as the capital of theRepublic of the Sierra Madreas it did before in 1840 for theRepublic of the Rio Grande.
In 1846, the earliest large-scale engagement of theMexican–American Wartook place in the city, known as theBattle of Monterrey. Mexican forces were forced to surrender but only after successfully repelling U.S. forces' first few advances on the city. The battle inflicted high casualties on both sides, much of them resulting from hand-to-hand combat within the walls of the city center. Many of the generals in theMexican War against Francewere natives of the city, includingMariano Escobedo,Juan Zuazua(b. Lampazos de Naranjo, NL) andJerónimo Treviño.
The breweryCervecería Cuauhtémoc, one of the milestone local enterprises, was founded in 1890.
During the last decade of the 19th century, Monterrey was linked by railroad, which benefitted industry. It was during this period thatJosé Eleuterio Gonzálezfounded theUniversity Hospital, now one of northeast Mexico's best public hospitals, affiliated with the School of Medicine of theAutonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL). Antonio Basagoiti and other citizens founded theFundidora de Fierro y Acero de Monterrey.
A steel-producing company that accelerated the already fast industrialization of the city was founded in 1900 and became one of the world's biggest. In 1986, Monterrey hosted several games of the1986 FIFA World Cup.
In 1988,Hurricane Gilbertcaused great damage to the city; the previously drySanta Catarina Riveroverflowed, causing over 100 deaths and economic damage.
The city has hosted international events such as the 2002United Nations Conference on Financing for Developmentwith the participation of more than 50 heads of state and government, as well as other ministers and senior delegates from over 150 countries. The conference resulted in the adoption of theMonterrey Consensus, which has become a reference point for international development and cooperation. In 2004, theOASSpecial Summit of the Americaswas attended by almost all the presidents of the Americas.
In 2007, Monterrey held theUniversal Forum of Cultures, with four million visitors. In 2008, Monterrey held the FINA World Junior Championships.
In 2010, Monterrey was hit by another damaging storm,Hurricane Alexwhich was considered worse thanHurricane Gilbert, with record-breaking rain bringing floods and causing severe economic damage. Damage estimates totaled US$1.885 billion and $16.9 billion MXN. Reconstruction and urban renewal ensued. Recently, theNuevo León Development Plan 2030was presented, along with some other metropolitan projects.
In August 2011 the city was the scene of aterror attack on a casino, in which more than 50 people were killed.
In summer 2022, the area experienced a severe drought, and city water service was cut off for several weeks to some areas, and in others limited to six hours a day.The city has three reservoirs.Cerro Prieto Reservoirdropped to 1% of its capacity andLa Boca Reservoirdropped to 8%.El Cuchillo Reservoirremained at 30%, but limited aqueduct capacity led the government to announce in September 2022 a second aqueduct to connect it to Monterrey, with expected completion in July 2023.Heavy rains replenished reservoirs in early September.Controversy erupted over local bottling companies continuing to use well water to export beer and soft drinks during the crisis, though industry uses only 4% of water in Nuevo León, while residents use 25% and agriculture uses 71%.In late September, the governor of Nuevo León declared the crisis over, but asked residents to voluntarily use no more than 100 liters per day.
The city of Monterrey is 540 metres (1,770 ft)above sea levelin the northeastern state ofNuevo León.Monterrey translated literally from Spanish to English is "King Mount" or "King Mountain", andfolk etymologyclaims that this refers to the city's topography and the large mountains that surround it (actually, the city was named after the wife ofGaspar de Zúñiga, 5th Count of Monterrey). The Santa Catarina River—dry most of the year on the surface but with flowing underground water—bisects Monterrey from east to west, separating the city into north and south halves, and drains the city to theSan Juan RiverandRio Grande.
Monterrey is adjacent toSan Nicolás de los Garza,GarcíaandGeneral Escobedoto the north;Guadalupe,JuárezandCadereyta Jiménezto the east;Santiagoto the south; andSan Pedro Garza GarcíaandSanta Catarinato the west. Their combined metropolitan population is over 4,080,329 people.
Monterrey lies north of the foothills of theSierra Madre Orientalmountain range. A small hill, theCerro del Topo, and the smallerTopo Chicoare in the suburbs of San Nicolás de los Garza and Escobedo. West of the city rises theCerro de las Mitras(Mountain of the Mitres), which resemble the profile of several bishops with theirmitres.
Cerro de la Silla(Saddle Mountain) dominates the view at the east of the city and is considered a major symbol of the city.Cerro de la Loma Larga—South of the Santa Catarina river—separates Monterrey from the suburb of San Pedro Garza García. At the summit of theCerro del Obispado, north of the river, is the historicBishopric Palace, site of one of the most important battles of theMexican–American War.
The mountains surrounding Monterrey are home to many canyons, trails, and roads that cross deserts and forests, offering suitable trails for the general public. TheSierra Madre Oriental mountainsto the south of the city are part of the Parque Nacional Cumbres de Monterrey, which is part of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program of Biosphere Reserves, a designation it received in 2006.
Key locations within Cumbres de Monterrey includes:
Monterrey has asemi-arid climate(Köppen climate classificationBSh), not having enough precipitation for ahumid subtropical climate. Being inland at a modest elevation, it is one of the warmest major cities in Mexico.Summers are generally hot, spring and fall temperate, and winters mild, with temperatures rarely below freezing.The average high in August is 36 °C (97 °F) and the average low is 24 °C (75 °F). The average January high is 22 °C (72 °F) and the average low in January is 10 °C (50 °F). Rainfall is scarce in winter, but more frequent during May through September.
Monterrey frequently experiences extreme weather changes; for example, it sometimes reaches 30 °C (86 °F) in January and February, the coldest months. The most extreme weather changes in summer occur with rainfall, which can reduce temperatures significantly, and the temporary absence of thenorthern windsin winter, which can lead to abnormally high temperatures. Seasons are not well defined; the warm season may start in February and may last until September. In April and May 2011 temperatures reached 45 °C (113 °F) or higher, causing fires and extreme heat. Snow is a very rare event, although an accumulation of 50 cm (20 in) in 8 hours occurred in January 1967.The most recent snowfall was in February 2021. Sleet and ice events occurred in January 2007, December 2009, January and February 2010, and February 2011,caused by temperatures around −5 °C (23 °F).
From June 30 to July 2, 2010, Monterrey was hit by the worst natural disaster in the city's history whenHurricane Alexdelivered more than 584 mm (23 in) of rain in 72 hours, with areas reaching up to 1 m (39 in) of rain during that same period, destroying homes, avenues, highways and infrastructure, and leaving up to 200,000 families without water for a week or more. The amount of water that fell was equivalent to the average precipitation for a year. This was about 3–4 times as much rain asHurricane Gilbertproduced in the city on September 15, 1988. The death toll of Hurricane Alex was estimated to be around 20.
According to the nationalINEGIpopulation census of 2010, of the total population of the state ofNuevo León, 87.3% lived in the Monterrey metropolitan area.
TheMonterrey metropolitan areais thesecond most populousin Mexico, with more than 5 million inhabitants. It comprises the municipalities of Monterrey,Apodaca,Escobedo,García,Guadalupe, Santiago,Juárez,San Nicolás de los Garza,San Pedro Garza García,Santa CatarinaandSalinas Victoria.
Monterrey has an estimated 3.7%illiteracyrate. In 2005, of an estimated 983,359 inhabitants above 6 years of age, 36,689 were illiterate.In 2005, the city had 72 public libraries, with 298,207 books available, serving an estimated 478,047 readers.
TheUniversidad Autónoma de Nuevo León(Autonomous University of Nuevo León, UANL) is the third-largest Mexican university and is ranked by the Reader's Digest-AC Nielsen Survey 2005 as the top public university in northeast Mexico.Its main campus, Ciudad Universitaria (University City), covers approximately 67,630,000 square metres (17,000 acres).The UANL system comprises 26 colleges (faculties), 22 graduate divisions, 29 high schools, 1 center of bilingual education and 3 technical high schools. Its medical school is considered one of the most advanced in Latin America.
Monterrey is also the headquarters of theInstituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey(Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Studies),which ranked No. 291 at the 2013 QS World University Rankings in Engineering and Information Technology, No. 201 in Social Sciences and No. 279 overall.It also holds a "QS Stars Rated for Excellence" of 5 stars.
TheUniversidad Regiomontanawas founded in 1969 with the support of local leading multinational corporations such as Cemex,Alfa,Femsa,Gamesa,Protexaand CYDSA.It is a private educational institution offering university-preparatory school, undergraduate and graduate programs, having agreements with more than 350 universities across the globe (such as the recent expanded agreementwith Texas A&M International University).It is member of GATE (Global Alliance for Transnational Education) and FIMPES (Federación de Instituciones Mexicanas Particulares de Educación Superior) and its administration holds an ISO 9001 Certification. The university is nationally recognized, so its degree equivalency is comparable to that of a regionally accredited university in the United States. The university is dedicated to educating students in an atmosphere of freedom and humanism, and providing students hands-on experience in their field of study. Its urban campusfurther stimulates the city's vibrant economy and attracts working professionals who complement and enrich the academic experience.
TheUniversidad de Monterreywas founded by the religious congregations of the Sisters of Immaculate Mary of Guadalupe, the nuns of the Sacred Heart and the Marist and La Salle brothers, all of them supported by an association of Catholic citizens.
Monterrey generally has a very highly ranked medical infrastructure with some internationally acclaimed hospitals,including three withJoint Commissionaccreditation.The Joint Commission is a private healthcare accreditation group. There are both public and private hospitals. TheMexican Social Security Institute (IMSS)has two major regional hospitals in the city, the Specialties Regional Hospital # 33, the cardiac centre (Hospital #34), and the Gynecology and Obstetrics Regional Hospital, serving also the northeastern states ofCoahuilaandTamaulipas. Several smaller IMSS hospitals can be found such as the Traumatology and Orthopedics Hospital and the General Hospital # 25. State government owns the Metropolitan Hospital, located in the suburb ofSan Nicolás de los Garzaand the Hospital of the Children and Mother Care inGuadalupesuburb.
TheAutonomous University of Nuevo Leónruns the public University Hospital, with a high-level shock-trauma unit and a specialized clinic for child cancer treatment. It is recognized as the best public hospital in the northeast of Mexico and the UANL School of Medicine as one of the best in the country. On the other hand, theTecnológico de Monterreyruns the HospitalSan José-Tec de Monterreyprivate hospital.
Monterrey has healthcare standards above the average for Mexico.It has several hospitals, including Hospital Cima (formerly Santa Engracia) of the International Hospital Corporation. Its convenient location, low prices and quality of medical care have made of Monterrey a very popularmedical tourismdestination for United States patients.
Monterrey and itsmetropolitan areaare municipalities governed by a democratically electedPresidente Municipal(Municipal President), or mayor, for a period of three years. The political environment is one of civility and in the last decade political parties have been alternating office. The currentmayor of MonterreyisLuis Donaldo Colosio Riojas.
The City Council of Monterrey (Cabildo de Monterrey) is an organ integrated by the mayor, theRegidoresand theSíndicos. The mayor is the executor of the determinations of the City Council and the person directly in charge of public municipal administration. TheRegidoresrepresent the community and collectively define city policies. TheSíndicosare in charge of watching and legally defending city interests, as well as of monitoring the treasury and the municipal patrimony.
The political parties with representation in the city are theInstitutional Revolutionary Party or PRI, theNational Action Party or PAN, theParty of the Democratic Revolution or PRD, theLabor Party or PT, theGreen Party,Citizens' Movement,Socialdemocratic PartyandNueva Alianza.
In 2005, Monterrey was ranked one of the safest cities in Mexico,and it was one of the two safest in 2006. However since 2008 the city has experienced violence related to turf battles between rival drug cartels. The year marked the most violent period in the city's history. Although drug dealers remain a major concern, military offensives and police captures of important drug-cartel leaders have weakened the cartels trying to establish themselves Despite these challenges. The city is considered safe for travel during both the day and at night.In 2019, cartels were still fighting for control of the city, potentially making Monterrey dangerous.
Monterrey has two police departments: the Police of the City of Monterrey (locally known as thePolicía Regia),which is under the municipal government, and State Public Safety which oversees more remote areas.ThePolicía Regiais responsible for protecting the downtown and main areas of the city, while State Public Safety is focuses on the outskirts. Following the2011 attack on the Casino Royale, security has been reinforced by military and federal police.
Monterrey is connected with theUnited States–Mexico border, the sea and inland Mexico through different roads, including theCarretera Nacional(also known as thePan-American Highway) that runs fromNuevo LaredotoMexico Cityand south, and theCarretera InteroceánicaconnectingMatamoroswith the port ofMazatlánon the Pacific; it is also crossed byhighways 40,45, and57. The divided highway Monterrey-Saltillo-Matehuala-Mexico Cityis the main land corridor to interior Mexico.
There are several between-cities bus lines at the bus station downtown. There are arrivals and departures into deeper Mexico, to the U.S. border and into the United States. Monterrey is also connected by at least three important railroad freight lines:Nuevo Laredo-Mexico City, Monterrey-Tampico, and Monterrey-Pacific (Mazatlán).
The average amount of time people spend commuting with public transit in Monterrey, for example to and from work, on a weekday is 85 min. 25% of public transit riders, ride for more than 2 hours every day. The average amount of time people wait at a stop or station for public transit is 17 min, while 29.% of riders wait for over 20 minutes on average every day. The average distance people usually ride in a single trip with public transit is 9.5 km, while 25% travel for over 12 km in a single direction.
The city has arapid transit systemcalledMetrorrey, which currently has 3 lines.and aBRTcalledEcovía.
The city is served by two international airports:Monterrey International Airport(served by major international carriers and moving more than 6.5 million passengers in 2007)andDel Norte International Airport, a primarily private airport.
Monterrey is linked through frequent non-stop flights to many Mexican cities and to United States hubs (Atlanta,Chicago-O'Hare,Dallas/Fort Worth,Detroit,Houston-Intercontinental,JFK/New York, andLas Vegas). Monterrey is the second most important city for the operating routes ofAeroméxico.
Four airlines have their operational bases and headquarters in Monterrey,Volaris,Aeroméxico Connect,VivaAerobusandMagnicharters. Regarding ground transportation from Monterrey International Airport, taxi services link the airport with the city and charge around US$20 for a one-way ride to the city. From this airport, there is a bus shuttle to nearby Saltillo. Inter-city bus services run daily into the interior, as well as north to the US border and points beyond. A public transportation bus line operated by theNuevo LeonState Government called theRuta Express(Express Route) also operates from the airport to theMetrorrey Line 1'sY Griega metro station.
Monterrey is a major industrial center in northern Mexico, with a GDP (PPP) of US$140 billion and a GDP (PPP) per capita of US$31,900 in 2015.The city was rated byFortunemagazine in 1999 as the best city in Latin America for business and is currently ranked third best by theAmérica Economíamagazine.
The city has prominent positions in sectors such as steel, cement, glass, auto parts, and brewing. The city's economic wealth has been attributed in part to its proximity to the United States-Mexico border and economic links to the United States.
Industrialization was accelerated in the mid-19th century by theCompañia Fundidora de Fierro y Acero Monterrey, a steel-processing company.Today, Monterrey is home to transnational conglomerates such asCemex(the world's third largest cement company),FEMSA(Coca-Cola Latin America, largest independent Coca-Cola bottler in the world),Alfa(petrochemicals, food, telecommunications and auto parts),Axtel(telecommunications),Vitro(glass),Selther(leading mattress and rest systems firm in Latin America),Gruma(food), andBanorte(financial services). TheFEMSAcorporation owned a large brewery, theCuauhtémoc Moctezuma Brewery(Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma) that produces the brands Sol,Tecate, Indio,Dos EquisandCarta Blancaamong others, in the beginning of the year Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Brewery was sold to Dutch-based companyHeineken. By the end of the same year, there were more than 13,000 manufacturing companies, 55,000 retail stores, and more than 52,000 service firms in Monterrey.
The metals sector, dominated by iron and steel, accounted for 6 percent of manufacturingGNPin 1994.Mexico'ssteel industryis centered in Monterrey, where the country's first steel mills opened in 1903. Steel processing plants in Monterrey, privatized in 1986, accounted for about half of Mexico's total steel output in the early 1990s.
Monterrey was ranked 94th worldwide and fifth in Latin America in terms of Quality of Life according to Mercer Human Resource Consulting (2006),and was ranked second in 2005 and fourth in 2006, according to América Economía.
Some of the shopping malls in the city includePaseo San Pedro, Paseo La Fe,Plaza Fiesta San Agustín,Galerías Monterrey, andGalerías Valle Oriente.
In March 2023,Teslaannounced that it would build a newgigafactory—Gigafactory Mexico—near Monterrey. The factory will be a ~US$10 billion dollar investment, and will employ thousands of workers when fully operational, as well as employ many thousands of workers during construction.
The2007 Universal Forum of Cultureswas an international cultural event held in Monterrey from September 20 to December 8, 2007.
The most traditional dish from Monterrey iscabrito,kid goat cooked on embers. Other local dishes and customs that perhaps date back to theCrypto-Judaismof Monterrey's founding families are the "semita" (bread without leavening), thecapirotadadessert (a mix of cooked bread, cheese, raisins, peanuts, and crystallized sugarcane juice), and the relative absence of pork dishes. Another famous local dish ismachacado con huevo.
Carne asadaon weekends remains a tradition among Monterrey families. It is usually served with grilled onions, baked potatoes andsausagesor chopped astacos. Locally brewed beer and cola are an almost mandatory part of the weekly ritual. "Glorias" and "obleas", made from goat milk, are both traditional Nuevo León desserts.
Monterrey has a wide gastronomic variety due to its climate geography, climate, texture, a mixture of ethnics groups, and their influences, a series of unique dishes have been created through more than 400 years of history.
After the USMCA was ratified, an industrialChinatownwith signs in both Spanish and Chinese formed in Monterrey to take advantage of tariff free trade with the United States given its proximity toTexas.
Since the 1960s, Monterrey has been known for "Norteño" music. Bands like Ramon Ayala, Pesado, Duelo and other Mexican "regional" bands perform at the clubs. Monterrey has witnessed the birth of several bands that have become internationally acclaimed. Their genres vary considerably. Bands includePlastilina Mosh,Control Machete,Kinky,El Gran Silencio,Celso Pina,Jumbo,Division Minuscula,Genitallica,3Ball MTY,The Warning, GAMA, Los Claxons. The song "Los Oxidados" by Plastilina Mosh opened the 2005 movieMr. & Mrs. Smith.
Monterrey is an important producer and broadcaster of media and entertainment in Mexico.Grupo Multimediosoperates 4 television channels in the city, andXHAW-TDTis theflagshipof the near-national networkCanal 6, which also airs as a cable network in the United States. National broadcasting networksTelevisaandAztecahave local stations for all of their major channels, along with the non-commercial broadcasters such asOnceandCanal 22networks. The state of Nuevo León andUANLalso maintain television stations.
Grupo Reforma, one of the most widely read newsources in Mexico originated in the city with the newspaperEl Norte.Milenio Diario de Monterrey, published byGrupo Multimedios, is another newspaper of high distribution, daily printing local editions in the most important Mexican cities. Other local newspapers includeEl Porvenir,El Horizonte, andABC. Northern Mexico's weekly business newspaperBiznewsis also headquartered in Monterrey.
Monterrey also hasseveral radio stationsbroadcasting news, music, entertainment, and culture for the city. The main radio broadcasting groups areMultimedios Radio, Grupo Radio Alegría and Nucleo Radio Monterrey.
The city hosted 8 matches during the1986 FIFA World Cup.The city will host matches during the2026 FIFA World Cup.TheFINA World Junior Swimming Championshipswere held in Monterrey in the summer of 2008 at the University of Nuevo Leon (UANL),after the completion of a world-class and FINA-approved Aquatic Center. Also the city wanted to bid for the2016 Summer Olympics,but the Mexican Olympic Committee refused to support it.Backed by a young people's movement, students of the universities of Monterrey formed the Monterrey 2014 Foundation with the purpose of hosting the2014 Summer Youth Olympics. In 2009, the Mexican Olympic Committee gave the bid toGuadalajarawhich later on withdrew the bid late January 2010.Monterrey wasbiddingfor the2018 Summer Youth Olympics.Again, in February 2012, theMexican Olympic CommitteechoseGuadalajaraas a candidate for the2018 Summer Youth Olympics,but was eliminated by theInternational Olympic Committeeto advance to the final round.Since then, the Foundation Monterrey Olympic City A.C., the new name of this group of young citizens,are working on a project bid for the2023 Summer Youth Olympicsand then apply for the2028 Summer Olympics.
Monterrey has twofootballteams in the Mexican league. TheC.F. Monterrey, commonly known as theRayados del Monterrey, uses theEstadio BBVA Bancomer, a facility sponsored byBBVA Bancomerand other important businesses. TheTigres UANL, owned byCEMEX,host matches atEstadio Universitario, on the main campus of theUANL. Both teams are related to the city on thederby, calledClásico Regiomontano. During the match, most of the city watches in bars, clubs, and family homes. It was proposed to build a stadium for both teams, the "Estadio Internacional Monterrey",but both teams rejected the idea. The project is still being promoted, but the UANL Tigres have yet to finish their stadium contract and theRayadosjust inaugurated a new stadium of their own. Club de Fútbol Monterrey recently opened a new stadium with a capacity of 50,000. It was scheduled to be finished by 2014, named "Estadio de Fútbol Monterrey", but was inaugurated on August 2, 2015, in a match withBenfica FC. Rayados won, 3–0. Before the inauguration, the name was changed toEstadio BBVA Bancomer. It will remain the club's property for 50 years before becoming government property.
In addition, two professionalindoor soccerteams were hosted in the past, theMonterrey La Raza, members of theContinental Indoor Soccer LeagueandWorld Indoor Soccer Leagueand theMonterrey Fury, members of theMajor Indoor Soccer League. The city wasawarded another franchise to begin play in the fall of 2007in theMISL.
Baseball has a long history in the city, where it became the most popular sport during the early 20th century. Monterrey has been champion of theLittle League World Seriesthree times (1957, 1958 and 1997), and has been host ofMajor League Baseballgames. TheSultanes de Monterreyare a Mexican League baseball team in the Northern Division. They have won the national title several times. The team was formed May 20, 1939, as Carta Blanca (a local beer brand, owned by Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Brewery which owned the team). The team was also known as the gray ghosts. Soon, they became one of the most important teams in the league, winning its first championship in 1943. The Sultanes play in theEstadio de Béisbol Monterrey, the largest baseball stadium in Mexico.In 2003, the city unsuccessfully attempted to buy (and relocate to Monterrey) theMontreal Expos franchiseofMajor League Baseball.
There are two professional basketball teams:Fuerza Regiathat plays in the national league,Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional, and theMonterrey Venomthat plays in the minor leagueAmerican Basketball Association. Fuerza Regia used to play at theMonterrey Arenaand now is doing this at Gimnasio Nuevo León while the Monterrey Poison plays at the gymnasium of the ITESM. The city has hosted theChamp Carrace inFundidora Parkfrom 2001 to 2005 and hosted theA1 Grand Prix of Nationsin February 2006.
In 2004, Monterrey hosted theWorld Karate FederationSenior World Championships. In April 2004, Monterrey'sArena Monterreybecame the first city to hostWWEin Mexico. In 2007, Monterrey hosted the Women'sWTBA World Tenpin Bowling Championships. The city has two collegeAmerican footballteams, theAuténticos Tigres UANLand theBorregos Salvajes(ITESM) that play in the National College League (ONEFA). There is also a local children's league called AFAIM. People can also find golf, fishing, camping, and extreme-sports outdoors near the city (bungee jumpingatCola de Caballo,rock-climbing, hiking, mountain bike). In particular there is international-levelrock-climbingplaces like la Huasteca,Potrero Chicoand many other canyons.
Starting 2009 theMonterrey Openhas been held at Monterrey. It is a professional women's tennis tournament affiliated with the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), and is part of the International tournaments on the WTA Tour. TheMonterrey Openwas also a golf tournament on the U.S.-based second tier professionalNike Tour, later named the Nationwide Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour, from 1993 to 2001. It was played at the Club Campestre inSan Pedro Garza García, a suburb of Monterrey. In 2010, Monterrey hosted theInternational Ice Hockey FederationWorld U18 Championship at theMonterrey Ice Complex. Centauros Rugby Club Monterrey was founded in 2010 and is affiliated with the FMRU (Federacion Mexicana de Rugby).
Monterrey istwinnedwith: