Estadio GNP Seguros

Estadio GNP Seguros, formerly known as Foro Sol,[4] is a multipurpose stadium built in 1993 inside the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in eastern Mexico City.[1][5] It is located near the Mexico City International Airport and is operated by Grupo CIE.[6]

Estadio GNP Seguros
Map
LocationAv. Viaducto Río Piedad y Río Churubusco s/n
Col. Granjas México, Iztacalco, C.P. 08400
Mexico City, Mexico[1]
Coordinates19°24′17.6″N 99°5′45.4″W / 19.404889°N 99.095944°W / 19.404889; -99.095944
Public transitMexico City Metro Mexico City Metro Line 9 Velódromo
Mexico City Metro Mexico City Metro Line 9 Ciudad Deportiva
OwnerMexico City Government
OperatorGrupo CIE
CapacityBaseball: 25,000[2]
Concerts: 65,000[3]
Field sizeLeft Field: 326 feet (99 m)
Center Field: 417 feet (127 m)
Right Field: 333 feet (101 m)[1]
SurfaceFieldTurf
Opened1993
Tenants
Mexican Grand Prix (2015–present)
Diablos Rojos del México (LMB) (2000–2014)
Tigres de México (LMB) (2000–2001)

The venue was originally built for staging large music concerts. Initially called the Autódromo, it could accommodate up to 50,000 people.[5] From 2000 to 2014, it was used as a baseball stadium as well, hosting the Diablos Rojos del México and Tigres de México.[1][5] The stadium is the second-largest concert venue in Mexico City; the largest, Estadio Azteca, has a capacity of 87,523.[7]

History

In 1993, four temporary stadium seatings were placed in the banked curve of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez due to the lack of venues for large music concerts.[8] The then-provisional field resulted as an agreement between Paul McCartney's manager, Barry Marshall, and Alejandro Soberón, the CEO of OCESA, after the concert usage of the Estadio Azteca was denied to the singer for a date on the New World Tour.[9] Four years later, it was permanently built and renamed as Foro Sol, the name coming from a popular beer brand of the Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma group that had purchased the naming rights of the venue.[10]

Since 2015, the stadium hosts the Mexican Grand Prix and since 2016 the Mexico City ePrix, becoming part of the track and noted for its unique nature, increasing as well the circuit capacity by 25,000 spectators.[11][12]

In 2019, the park hosted the Race of Champions and Stadium Super Trucks; the latter served as both a competing ROC category and standalone event to conclude its 2018 season.[13][14][15]

It was announced in October 2023 that the stadium would close temporarily throughout most of 2024 for renovations.[16] News surfaced in January 2024 that the venue would change its name from Foro Sol to Estadio GNP after the renovations, following a new deal between OCESA and GNP Seguros.[17] The name change was announced officially on 18 June 2024.[4]

Usages

Baseball

A 2014 Diablos Rojos baseball match at the ballpark

The stadium was inaugurated as a baseball park on 2 June 2000 with a match between the Tigres de México and the Diablos Rojos del México. Both teams had previously played in the Parque del Seguro Social, that was demolished in order to build a shopping mall. Tigres played the 2000 and 2001 seasons, winning the Mexican League championship back to back. The next year, Tigres moved to Puebla City and changed their name to Tigres de la Angelópolis and the Diablos Rojos remained as the park's only tenants.[18] The venue was nicknamed Infierno Solar (Solar Hell) while the Diablos Rojos were the only tenants in it.[1][19][20][21][22]

The ballpark hosted three Major League Baseball exhibition games: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Tampa Bay Rays in 2001, New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers in 2003, and Florida Marlins vs. Houston Astros in 2004.[23] Foro Sol hosted as well the Pool B of the 2009 World Baseball Classic contested by Australia, Cuba, South Africa, and Mexico.[24]

In 2014, due to the return of the Mexican Grand Prix to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Diablos Rojos played their last season at the stadium, since the venue needed renovations in order to host Formula 1. Diablos Rojos moved to the smaller Estadio Fray Nano.[18][25]

Music

Notable concerts

Madonna was the first world-class act to perform at the venue for her first visit to Mexico with The Girlie Show on 10, 12 and 13 November 1993, when it was still called the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.[8]

British alternative rock band Coldplay performed at the stadium on 3, 4, 6, and 7 April 2022.[26] These four shows made the band the first international group in history to perform four shows on a single tour, as well as the biggest attendance in the stadium's history for an English speaking act, with 259,591 spectators.[27][28][29]

During his farewell tour, Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee performed five shows on 29 and 30 November, 2, 3, and 4 December 2022, with 322,028 attendees overall. He became the first act to achieve five consecutive nights and the biggest attendance gathered at the venue.[30]

Taylor Swift performed four consecutive shows on the 24, 25, 26 and 27 of August 2023 as part of The Eras Tour, making her the first female artist to ever schedule four shows in a single tour at the stadium.[31]

Music festivals

The venue is the host of Vive Latino, an annual multi-day rock music festival. It is one of the most important rock en español music festivals in the world, featuring a great variety of Mexican, Latin and Spanish groups of many genres, including performances of bands like Café Tacuba, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Gustavo Cerati, Ozomatli, Sepultura, Ska-P, and non-Spanish speaking bands like The Wailers, Jane's Addiction, Deftones, The Chemical Brothers, and The Mars Volta. The festival has also hosted many Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide pro wrestling events as well.

The venue was the host of The World is a Vampire music festival on March 4, 2023 which was included performances by The Smashing Pumpkins, Interpol, Peter Hook and the Light, Turnstile, Chelsea Wolfe, Margaritas Podridas, Ekkstacy, El Shirota, Deafhaven, In the Valley Below, and Acid Waves. The festival also featured a supercard wrestling show featuring wrestlers from Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide and NWA.

Panorama of the venue in 2011

List of concerts at Estadio GNP Seguros

Concerts at Estadio GNP Seguros
DateArtistTourAttendance
10, 12, 13 November 1993MadonnaThe Girlie Show137,234
25, 27 November 1993Paul McCartneyThe New World Tour101,910
9, 10 April 1994Pink FloydThe Division Bell Tour90,476
14, 16, 18, 20 January 1995The Rolling StonesVoodoo Lounge Tour204,020
23 October 1997David BowieEarthling Tour
2, 3 December 1997U2PopMart Tour106,966
7, 9 February 1998The Rolling StonesBridges to Babylon Tour88,700
9 January 2001Iron MaidenBrave New World Tour
23, 24, 25 March 2001Backstreet BoysBlack & Blue Tour
19 October 2001Eric ClaptonReptile World Tour
19 March 2002Roger WatersIn the Flesh
27, 28 July 2002Britney SpearsDream Within a Dream Tour102,522
5 October 2002RushVapor Trails Tour
14, 15 February 2003ShakiraTour of the Mongoose88,163
26 February 2006The Rolling StonesA Bigger Bang
4, 5 May 2006Depeche ModeTouring the Angel105,040
21, 22 October 2006Robbie WilliamsClose Encounters Tour102,956
6 March 2007Roger WatersThe Dark Side of the Moon Live54,344
22 April 2007AerosmithWorld Tour 200764,000
13 May 2007ShakiraOral Fixation Tour48,491
27 May 2007High School MusicalHigh School Musical: The Concert35,139
6, 7 October 2007Heroes del SilencioTour 2007
16 November 2007Soda StereoGira Me Veras Volver
27, 28 November 2007The PoliceThe Police Reunion Tour47,027
12 December 2007Billy Joel2007 World
18 January 2008TiëstoElements
24 February 2008Iron MaidenSomewhere Back in Time World Tour
29, 30 November 2008MadonnaSticky & Sweet Tour104,270
20 December 2008Jonas BrothersBurnin' Up Tour
26 February 2009Iron MaidenSomewhere Back in Time World Tour
4, 6, 7 June 2009MetallicaWorld Magnetic Tour156,728[32]
3, 4, October 2009Depeche ModeTour of the Universe88,380
20 April 2010MuseThe Resistance Tour
6, 7, March 2010ColdplayViva la Vida Tour94,005
27, 28, May 2010Paul McCartneyUp and Coming Tour110,000
24 September 2010Bon JoviThe Circle Tour44,124
24 October 2010Jonas BrothersLive in Concert World Tour42,500
18 March 2011Iron MaidenThe Final Frontier World Tour47,489
2, 3 April 2011ShakiraThe Sun Comes Out World Tour54,000[33]
5, 6 May 2011Lady GagaThe Monster Ball Tour111,060
26 May 2011Miley CyrusGypsy Heart Tour31,200
1, 2 October 2011Justin BieberMy World Tour94,449
8 November 2011AerosmithBack on the Road Tour58,000
24 November 2011Pearl JamPearl Jam Twenty Tour
3 December 2011Britney SpearsFemme Fatale Tour57,000
27, 28 April 2012Roger WatersThe Wall Live82,811
29 September 2012Kiss, Mötley CrüeThe Tour
26 October 2012Lady GagaBorn This Way Ball37,260
24, 25 November 2012MadonnaThe MDNA Tour84,382
9 February 2013Swedish House MafiaOne Last Tour36,657
13 April 2013The KillersBattle Born World Tour56,375
8, 9 June 2013One DirectionTake Me Home Tour108,050
17 September 2013Iron MaidenMaiden England World Tour49,332
29 September 2013Bon JoviBecause We Can35,222
18, 19, November 2013Justin BieberBelieve Tour98,358
11 December 2013Foo Fighters35,222
14 February 2015Romeo SantosFormula, Vol. 2 Tour48,298
28 November 2015Pearl JamPearl Jam 2015 Latin America Tour60,106
29 February, 1 March 2016Maroon 5Maroon V Tour117,296
14, 17 March 2016The Rolling StonesAmérica Latina Olé Tour 2016117,567
15, 16, 17 April 2016ColdplayA Head Full of Dreams Tour195,192
19, 20 April 2016Guns N' RosesNot in This Lifetime... Tour131,198
28, 29 September 2016Roger Waters118,594
16 November 2016Black SabbathThe End Tour60,506
18, 19, 21 February 2017Justin BieberPurpose World Tour155,201
1, 3, 5 March 2017MetallicaWorldWired Tour197,745
3, 4 October 2017U2The Joshua Tree Tour 2017117,098
2, 3 February 2018Bruno Mars24K Magic World Tour115,147
11, 13 March 2018Depeche ModeGlobal Spirit Tour128,521
6 April 2018The KillersWonderful Wonderful World Tour64,094
18 June 2018Romeo SantosGolden Tour
16 March 2019Lucha Libre AAA WorldwideVive Latino 2019 Day 1
17 March 2019Lucha Libre AAA WorldwideVive Latino 2019 Day 2
24 March 2019Arctic MonkeysTranquility Base Hotel + Casino64,467
18 May 2019Swedish House MafiaSave the World Tour
2, 3 October 2019MuseSimulation Theory World Tour94,400
6 March 2020Billy JoelBilly Joel in Concert45,645
14 March 2020Lucha Libre AAA WorldwideVive Latino 2020 Day 1
15 March 2020Lucha Libre AAA WorldwideVive Latino 2020 Day 2
19 November 2021Armin van BuurenA State of Trance
10, 11, 12 December 2021Panteón Rococó25° Aniversario
15 March 2022Foo Fighters54,800
19 March 2022Lucha Libre AAA WorldwideVive Latino 2022 Day 1
20 March 2022Lucha Libre AAA WorldwideVive Latino 2022 Day 2
24, 25, 26 March 2022Grupo FirmeEnfiestados y Amanecidos Tour190,004
30 March 2022Maroon 5World Tour 2022
3, 4, 6, 7 April 2022ColdplayMusic of the Spheres World Tour259,591[34]
29 April 2022The KillersImploding the Mirage Tour64,511
6, 7 May 2022Grupo FirmeEnfiestados y Amanecidos Tour111,452
19 May 2022The Strokes53,000
25, 26 May 2022Justin BieberJustice World Tour112,747
7 September 2022Iron MaidenLegacy Of The Beast Tour62,994
21 September 2022Dua LipaFuture Nostalgia Tour64,267
1, 2, 4 October 2022RammsteinStadium Tour193,990
12 November 2022ManáMéxico Lindo y Querido Tour
24, 25 November 2022Harry StylesLove On Tour117,363
29, 30 November, 2, 3, 4 December 2022Daddy YankeeLa Última Vuelta World Tour322,028
22, 23 January 2023MuseWill of the People World Tour107,270
10 February 2023Grupo FirmeEnfiestados y Amanecidos Tour
18 February 2023Mötley Crüe & Def LeppardThe World Tour
March 4 2023NWA &
Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide
The World is a Vampire: NWA vs. AAA
19 March 2023Red Hot Chili PeppersGlobal Stadium Tour
25 March 2023Ricardo ArjonaBlanco y Negro Tour
30 March 2023Billie EilishHappier Than Ever, The World Tour51,894
26, 27 April 2023BlackpinkBorn Pink World Tour113,498
6 May 2023Rels BFlakk Tour 2023
12 May 2023MolotovEstalla Molotov
17 May 2023Imagine DragonsMercury World Tour
20 May 2023Rauw AlejandroSaturno World Tour
24 May 2023Wisin & YandelLa Última Misión World Tour
27 May 2023Christian NodalForaji2 Tour
15, 16 August 2023Lana Del Rey2023-2024 Tour116,723
24, 25, 26, 27 August 2023Taylor SwiftThe Eras Tour
5 September 2023Post MaloneIf Y'all Weren't Here, I'd Be Crying Tour
21, 23, 25 September 2023Depeche ModeMemento Mori World Tour
29, 30 September 2023The WeekndAfter Hours til Dawn Tour129,707
6, 7 October 2023Arctic MonkeysThe Car Tour
11 November 2023Peso PlumaTour México55,925
14, 16 November 2023Paul McCartneyGot Back118,088
23 November 2023Junior HTour 2023
30 November 2023
1, 2, 3, 16, 17 December 2023
RBDSoy Rebelde Tour347,923
9 December 2023Siddhartha
2, 3 February 2024TWICEReady to Be World Tour114,049
8, 10, 11 August 2024Bruno Mars
20, 21 August 2024FeidFerxxocalipsis World Tour
23 August 2024Natanael CanoTumbado Tour 2024
20, 22, 27, 29 September 2024MetallicaM72 World Tour
3 October 2024Eric Clapton
5, 6 October 2024The KillersRebel Diamonds Tour
12 November 2024Paul McCartneyGot Back
20 November 2024Iron MaidenThe Future Past World Tour
13, 14 December 2024MoratLos Estadios Tour
20 February 2025Twenty One PilotsThe Clancy World Tour

References