Palacio de los Deportes, Indoor arena in Iztacalco, Mexico City, Mexico
Palacio de los Deportes is a circular indoor arena in the Magdalena Mixhuca Sports City complex in Iztacalco, Mexico City. Its dome, 120 meters in diameter, is made of copper-sheathed plywood over tubular aluminum hyperbolic paraboloids supported by steel arches. Below, brick-clad concrete buttresses form inverted-V portals, and wide steps lead to the entrances.
The arena was designed for the 1968 Summer Olympics and opened in October of that year. Architect Félix Candela created the building to host major sporting events.
The arena is officially named after Juan Escutia, a military cadet, though it is rarely called by that full name. Its nickname, "Palacio de los Rebotes" (Palace of Reverberations), came from the echo that plagued early concerts. Since the 1990s, acoustic modifications have been made, and the venue has hosted over 400 concerts, including Bob Dylan and Soda Stereo.
The arena sits within the Magdalena Mixhuca Sports City near Mexico City International Airport, and is accessible via major roads. Arriving early is helpful during large events as the space fills up quickly.
The roof uses hyperbolic paraboloids, a shape Candela applied in many of his works, allowing a wide overhead cover without central supports. This technique gives the building its recognizable silhouette from outside and creates clear sightlines from nearly every seat inside.
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