Estadio Azteca, where Mexico face England in this evening’s World Cup round-of-16 blockbuster, is probably the most storied venue in soccer history.
The first stadium to host matches at three different FIFA World Cups, the monumental stadium was the stage for the 1970 final, when Pele’s Brazil beat Italy 4-1 in what is widely regarded as the greatest team performance in the tournament’s history.
16 years later, after Colombia withdrew from hosting the World Cup amidst political and economic strife, Mexico stepped in as hosts again. This time, the Azteca was the seat of the most famous brace in the history of the game, Maradona scoring with the ‘Hand of God’ and the ‘Goal of the Century’ in Argentina’s 2-1 semi-final victory over England.
In the intervening period, the Azteca has hosted Michael Jackson, the NFL and the pope, breaking attendance records and adding chapter after chapter to its semi-mythological story.
Whatever the outcome of tonight’s game, it will be another seismic, historic occasion. Either Mexico progress and reach the World Cup quarter-finals for only the third time in the soccer-mad nation’s history or England lay the ghost of 1986 to rest.
But away from the stadium’s epic folklore, there is a cold economic factor to the event, which is
Azteca owners promised FIFA $62m in box owner dispute
Going into the match, the so-called ‘get-in’ price (the cheapest tickets currently available on the open market) to see Mexico face England at the Azteca – which, incidentally, is known as the Mexico City Stadium for the duration of the World Cup for sponsorship reasons – is north of $3,000.
There will be about 87,500 fans in attendance in total for what could be one of the highest grossing matches in football history. And the $3,000 tickets are for the cheap seats only.
The Azteca’s 856 private boxes are held via personal seat licenses and are trading hands for tens of thousands of dollars, as are the other privately-reserved ‘platea’ seats which are held by individuals through 99-year leases.
And the accounts for the stadium’s ownership group, Ollamani, reveal that they have promised to pay FIFA $62.4m so that those seats’ leaseholders can retain them for the 2026 World Cup.
That is $62.4m for just five matches. After the England game, all of the remaining World Cup knockout games will be in the United States.
How much Estadio Azteca makeover cost before 2026 World Cup
The Azteca has lived many lives.
Its 87,500 capacity is very modest compared to the 100,000-plus fans it accommodated for matches across the 1970 and 1986 World Cups.
Also revealed in Ollamani’s accounts is the fact that the latest revamp, which saw new seats, changing rooms, hospitality amenities and much more added to the stadium, cost $134m.
Given that the redevelopment was brought forward specifically for the World Cup, it illustrates the mind-boggling economics of the greatest show on Earth.
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