MEXICO CITY (AP) — Felix Aguirre admitted he’s had trouble sleeping in recent months. On the eve of the iconic hotel’s reopening. aztec stadium, And with some work still to be done, stadium directors won’t be able to relax until kick-off on Saturday night.
Closed from May 2024 due to renovation work. 2026 world cupthe stadium where Pele’s Brazil and Diego Maradona’s Argentina won the World Cup in 1970 and 1986, respectively, will reopen its doors to fans for a friendly between the two countries. mexico and portugal.
For Coach Aguirre and all the staff who have been racing against the clock in recent weeks to prepare the stadium, it will be an important test not only for this match, but also for the opening World Cup match between Mexico and South Africa on June 11th.
“I’m ready.”
“It’s true that I had a hard time sleeping thinking about this project and making sure it was the best it could be,” Aguirre told The Associated Press. “Today I can tell you that we did it and we are ready.”
The Associated Press was allowed into the stadium on Thursday, when construction still appeared to be underway in various areas, including the new locker rooms, where the smell of paint was noticeable.
Aguirre said the project currently has 2,200 workers working around the clock.
The renovation saw the stadium, officially renamed Banorte, increase its seating capacity from 83,000 to 87,500. Additionally, new seating, a new sound system with 250 speakers, two video screens, new locker rooms, a hybrid pitch and more were installed.
The lounge area in the lower center of the stadium was removed to increase capacity.
“At one point we took down the lower stands and put in boxes and some lounges that didn’t look great, but now we’ve put those stands back and it’s going back to the original Azteca,” Aguirre said.
The stadium, located south of Mexico City, will host five World Cup matches next summer. Opened in 1966, Azteca has undergone several renovations and will last host an NFL game in 2016.
“There were a lot of things we could improve on, but what we focused on was improving the fan experience. To accomplish this, we improved audio, video, and internet, but we also improved restrooms, entrances and exits, and everything related to the overall experience,” Aguirre said.
“It’s a little subjective, but I think we achieved it.”
all about soul
Coach Aguirre was given a clear explanation.
“The other thing we wanted was to not lose its soul,” Aguirre said. “This is a historic building that is part of the city. We couldn’t underestimate its essence. We just had to enhance it, protect its soul and provide a better experience for our fans.”
A familiar look for fans. Debris can still be seen in some locations and there will be no parking available for supporters for Saturday’s match. Authorities urged fans to use public transportation or shuttles departing from public places across the capital.
Aguirre’s mission is to hand over the stadium to FIFA a month before the opening match on June 11th.
If all goes well, he will be able to sleep soundly.
“That’s our hope,” he said with a laugh.
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