Estadio Akron

The Estadio Akron is a stadium located in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, in Mexico. It was built in the late 2000s and officially opened its doors in 2010, when it became the home of Mexican football side, C.D. Guadalajara.

The design of the stadium is unusual, to say the least, as it appears from the outside like it is built on top of a hill. However, this is something of an optical illusion as the hill is actually artificially made as part of the stadium’s design, and fans enter the stands through it, rather than having to climb up it.

A lot of the facilities inside the stadium are being renovated ahead of the 2026 World Cup, but they were perfectly okay anyway. There is plenty of space on the concourses, and the views of the pitch from the stands are immaculate all the away around the stadium.

One huge downside to the Estadio Akron is how problematic it is to get to. There also isn’t an awful lot in the immediate vicinity of the stadium, which has a negative impact on the fan experience.

The Estadio Akron has been selected to host four matches at the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.  These matches will take place on the following dates:

• 11 June: Group Stage match
• 18 June: Group Stage match
• 23 June: Group Stage match
• 26 June: Group Stage match

The Estadio Akron is more than just the home of C.D. Guadalajara, and it has played host to other events, including major music concerts and boxing cards. Some of the most famous people to have been ‘performed’ or ‘played’ at the stadium over the years include:

• Shakira
• The Weeknd
• Canelo Alvarez

Tranqui la entrada de Canelo Alvarez en el estadio Akron . pic.twitter.com/LhEGdXJsoS

— CRISTIAN GIGLI (@gigli_cristian) May 7, 2023

C.D. Guadalajara fans are among the noisiest in Mexican football, and when you combine that with the excellent acoustics at the Estadio Akron, you generally get a good atmosphere. Some of the chants you can expect to hear on a trip to the Estadio Akron include:

• Chivas, Chivas, Chivas
• Cada Vez Te Quiero Mas
• Esta Tarde
• Alegria de Mi Corazon
• Hoy Hay Que Ganar
• Dale Dale Rebano

The Estadio Akron has a bowl design, meaning that the stadium is symmetrical all the way round. The best views of the pitch at the stadium can be found in the two stands that run along the sides of the pitch – The Oriente Stand and the Poniente Stand.

Both of these stands span two tiers, and the prime locations in both are either at the top of the lower tier or at the bottom of the upper tier. However, provided you are close to the halfway line, it won’t matter too much about how high up the stand you are.

If you are more concerned about the atmosphere, then buy tickets in either the north stand or the south stand, both of which are located behind the goals at the stadium.

Seating plan

The area directly around the stadium doesn’t offer an awful lot in terms of bars. However, if you go a little further afield to the centre of Zapopan, then these places are all worth visiting:

• York Pub Zapopan Centro – Centro Historico, Av. Hidalgo 352, Zapopan Centro, Cabecera Municipal, 45100 Zapopan, Jal., Mexico
• Mika Bar – Av. Patria 188, Puerta de Hierro, 45116 Zapopan, Jal., Mexico
• Axno – 28 de Enero 194, Zapopan, 45100 Zapopan, Jal., Mexico

There are concession stands dotted around the concourses throughout the Estadio Akron. These stands have a mix of food options on offer, from Mexican favourites such as Tacos and Nachos to football favourites such as hot dogs and burgers.

There are also bars in each stand which sell soft and alcoholic drinks to visitors at the Estadio Akron.

Like with the bar situation, fans are going to need to head down the road to the centre of Zapopan if they want a sit-down meal before and/or after a match at the Estadio Akron. These restaurants also operate at a lower price point than the concession stands inside the stadium.

Three of our recommendations are as follows:

• Mochomos Guadalajara – Av. Patria 188, Puerta de Hierro, 45116 Zapopan, Jal., Mexico
• Cuerno Andares – Blvd. Puerta de Hierro 4965, Puerta de Hierro, 44100 Zapopan, Jal., Mexico
• Restaurante Casa Caborca Asador de Carnes Zapopan – Av Rafael Sanzio 165, La Estancia, 45030 Zapopan, Jal., Mexico

By car

Getting to the stadium can be a bit of a pain, which is why a lot of fans simply decide to jump in a taxi to take all the stress out of it. If you are driving, then you need to take the 15D highway and follow the signs for Zaponan/Nogales. Once you reach AV. Del Bosque, you should begin to see signs for the stadium.

By public transport

The public transport in Guadalajara isn’t the best, but the stadium is accessible via the city’s metrobus (BRT). Take the Mi Macro Periferico line and depart at the Estadio Chivas station. You will then only have a short walk to the stadium entrance.

Alternatively, there are several ‘normal’ bus routes which can take you to Zaponan station – this does then require a 15-20 minute walk to the stadium.

The Estadio Akron has a capacity of 49,813, and this has been a constant since it first opened back in 2010. While there are renovation works currently taking place at the stadium ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the stadium’s capacity won’t be altered.

It could be quite difficult to significantly expand the stadium in the future due to its exterior design, but just shy of 50,000 is more than adequate for any Mexican side.

Fans are able to book a tour of the Estadio Akron via the official C.D. Guadalajara website. They operate all year round and provide fans with an excellent experience, including a visit to the dressing rooms and a walk out onto the pitch. Tours also include a trip to the club museum, where the history of C.D. Guadalajara is told in great depth.

In recent years, the stadium tour has been improved to include a tour of Huvster, a hydroponic farm located in the stadium, and the Chivas esports Arena, where fans will be encouraged to play video games together.

Fans can learn more about the prices and tour availability via the official website.

If you are sticking around in Guadalajara for an extended period of time, then there are plenty of places worth visiting. The top five places on your bucket list in the area should be as follows:

• Instituto Cultural Cabanas
• Zoologico Guadalajara
• Bosque Los Colomos
• Guadalajara Cathedral
• Palacio de Gobierno del Estado de Jalisco

If major international artists ever include Guadalajara in their tours, then the Estadio Akron is often their preferred venue of choice. However, it has only been used sparingly over the years, due to the fact that Guadalajara is often skipped.

Regardless, the following artists have all played at least one concert here in the past:

• The Weeknd
• Shakira
• Coldplay
• Maroon 5
• Guns ‘N’ Roses

C.D. Guadalajara have had three different home stadiums in their history, with the Estadio Akron being the latest.

Prior to the Akron being built in the 21st century, the club played their home matches at Estadio Jalisco, which they had called home since 1960.

The idea of the Estadio AKRON first came about in the early 2000s, and construction started in 2004. However, due to a series of delays owing to financial issues, the stadium wasn’t completed until 2010.

The stadium is currently undergoing its most significant renovations to date, with the 2026 World Cup looming large. The changes that are being made are more to do with fan experience than anything structural, including the addition of giant screens at the end of the pitch with HD LED technology.

The audio system is being completely replaced to provide fans in the stadium with better sound quality. Additionally, a new electronic billboard is being installed, while the concourses, boxes, bathrooms and other spaces are receiving an overhaul.

There will also be new hospitality areas inside the stadium during the World Cup. These will be located in the AKRON Premier and Coca-Cola lounge zones.