Morelos Stadium, football (soccer) stadium in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico, home venue for Monarcas Morelia
Estadio Morelos is an irregular oval bowl of stacked concrete tiers on Periférico Paseo de la República in northwest Morelia. Behind each goal it has a single level of 32 rows; along the sides it rises through four levels (grandstand, plateas and two tiers of boxes) and 49 rows. The seats form red and yellow bands, with "MONARCAS" painted in red across the middle yellow band, and a flat roof canopy edges the top rim.
In 1984 Morelia was named a host city for the 1986 World Cup, but excavation on the planned site at the Adolfo López Mateos sports unit was halted by soil problems and the venue moved to Irapuato. Michoacán businessmen led by Luis Álvarez Barreiro, backed by governor Luis Martínez Villicaña, financed a new stadium through box and seat sales; it was built in about a year and a half and inaugurated on 9 April 1989, when Monarcas Morelia beat Club América 2-1 and Juan Ángel Bustos scored the first goal. Pope Francis addressed some 50,000 young people here on 16 February 2016.
The stadium is named after José María Morelos y Pavón, a key figure in Mexico's fight for independence from colonial rule. On match days, fans fill the stands with songs and chants, showing their deep connection to the local football community and their pride in supporting their teams.
The stadium sits on Periférico Paseo de la República in the Independencia sector, northwest of central Morelia, near the base of Cerro del Quinceo and close to the city's bus terminal. Parking areas for cars and buses are on site. The bowl is irregular: single-level stands with 32 rows behind each goal, four levels with 49 rows along the sides.
The 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup opened here with Mexico beating North Korea 3-1, and the venue drew 154,610 spectators over eight matches, fourth among the tournament's host stadiums. The last game played there was Germany's 3-2 quarterfinal win over England.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,752 contributors worldwide.