Features
Mexico City Gets Modern
Mexico City venues such as the Foro Sol and Auditorio Nacional have consistently ranked at the top of Pollstar’s Worldwide Ticket Sales charts for years, and it’s no wonder – the market has more than 21 million residents, and the thirst for entertainment is great.
Arena Ciudad De Mexico’s massive video screen dwarfs the crowd at the 22,000-capacity venue during Luis Miguel’s inaugural performance Feb. 25.
But despite putting up some impressive numbers, Mexico City has, until now, lacked a modern, technologically advanced, indoor arena.
The $300 million Arena Ciudad De Mexico should change all that.
The 22,000-capacity venue – designed and constructed by a team including KMD Architects and Avalanz Group – debuted with a Luis Miguel concert Feb. 25. Operator and promoter Zignia Live has high hopes for the facility.
“We are looking to have Arena Ciudad de Mexico as one of the top five arenas in the world,” Zignia Director of Operations Pedro Labarta told Pollstar, noting the steel- and glass-faced venue sports a panoply of special features that will differentiate it from other venues in the market.
Arena Ciudad De Mexico’s massive video screen dwarfs the crowd at the 22,000-capacity venue during Luis Miguel’s inaugural performance.
For one thing, there’s the size. Labarta explained the Arena Ciudad De Mexico is the largest indoor arena in the market. The venue also features a nearly 67,000-square-foot outdoor LED screen and 7,500-square-foot, center-hung video screen, air conditioning that the large, older venues in the market lack, restaurants and bars, 124 suites and 5,000 free parking spots, he said.
Zignia Live books the Arena Monterrey in northeastern Mexico. The promoter is planning to position the new facility as a must-visit stop for artists that may have previously felt there simply wasn’t the right venue for them in the region.
“We are working to have the best shows and the best artists in Mexico City and Monterrey,” Labarta said. “We are trying to have a pool to bring the artists to visit both places.”
Zignia is also planning to showcase sporting events at the new facility, and discussions are under way to host exhibition NBA games, tennis matches and arena football.
Though the Arena Ciudad De Mexico currently stands alone, the venue could someday serve as the flagship for an entire entertainment district – possibly a sort of L.A. Live, Mexico City-style.
“We have permission from the authorities to build a small stadium next to the arena,” Labarta explained, adding construction could begin as early as next year.
Upcoming shows on the books include Santana, Pitbull, Ricardo Arjona, Yanni and Demi Lovato.