Estadio BBVA

The Estadio BBVA is one of the biggest and best stadiums in Mexico. It is also one of the country’s most modern arenas, having only opened in 2015, and is the home of Mexican football club, CF Monterrey.

The stadium has been given the nickname ‘the steel giant’ by football fans in Mexico due to its design. From the outside, it does resemble a massive steel bowl, reminiscent of something you might expect to find in a sci-fi movie. However, inside, it is a thing of beauty with curved and steep stands adding to the fan experience.

One of the most iconic things about the Estadio BBVA is the views from the stands. We’re not referencing the view of the pitch here – there isn’t a bad seat in the house in that regard – but rather the view of the Cerro de la Silla, a huge mountain in Monterrey.

The mountain has a peak of nearly 6,000 ft and can be seen in full view from the stands in the northwestern part of the stadium.

In terms of facilities in and outside of the stadium, fans aren’t short of options when it comes to food and drink, while the concourses and toilets are modern and spacious.

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

• 14 June: Group Stage match
• 20 June: Group Stage match
• 24 June: Group Stage match
• 29 June: Round of 32 match

The Estadio BBVA doesn’t often draw in celebrity fans for Monterrey matches, as they are hardly one of the most glamorous or popular clubs in world football. However, several famous people performed here, as the stadium is often used as a music venue.

Some of the famous people to have visited the stadium include:

• Shakira
• Chris Martin
• Justin Bieber
• The Weeknd
• Michael Buble

Shakira broke the record for highest attended shows at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey 🇲🇽 with 120K attendees, surpassing Coldplay (116K). The two shows are expected to gross over $25M.

Now Shakira is set to play another 9 sold out stadiums in Mexico, including 7 Estadio GNP shows. pic.twitter.com/xdURC7GZ8R

— Pop Stuff (@ThePopStuff) March 15, 2025

Monterrey fans know how to make a racket, which makes a trip to the Estadio BBVA a fun one if you’re all about atmosphere. Some of the chants that you can expect to hear at the Estadio BBVA include:

• Esta Es Tu Hinchada
• Mi Corazon, Pintado de Albiazul
• Vamos Monterrey
• Canto Musica
• Yo Te Quiero

The design of the Estadio BBVA is an interesting one as three of the four stands have two tiers, while one stand – the south stand – is just a single tier. The reason for making this stand smaller than the rest is that the famous Cerro de la Silla stands tall behind it, allowing fans on the north side of the stadium to take in the views.

As a result, deciding where to sit at the Estadio BBVA can be a tricky one. If your priority is to get the best possible view of the action on the pitch, then you will want to get tickets in either the Oriente Stand or the Poniente Stand. These are the two stands that run along the sides of the pitch and are effectively identical in design and size.

For the best views, look to get tickets in either the top of the bottom tier or at the bottom of the middle tier in the blocks closest to the halfway line.

If your priority is a view of Cerro de la Silla, then you are going to want to get tickets in the north stand, which is located at one end of the stadium. This is also the stand that is considered the loudest at the stadium.

Seating plan

Fans who attend matches at the Estadio BBVA typically drink in the centre of Monterrey before making their way to the stadium for kick-off. Three of the best bars in Monterrey are:

• The Horde Bar Arcade – C. Diego de Montemayor 827 sur, Barrio Antiguo, Centro, 64000 Monterrey, N.L., Mexico
• Cuerno Calzada – Calz. del Valle 333, Del Valle, 66220 San Pedro Garza Garcia, N.L., Mexico
• Sierra Madre Brewing – Avenida Insurgentes 3951 Colonia Colinas de San Jeronimo, Vista Hermosa, 64620 Monterrey, N.L., Mexico

There are several food and drink concession stands dotted around the stadium, so you shouldn’t be short of options. The types of food you can expect to find inside the stadium are Mexican staples, such as nachos, tacos, tamales and churros. Additionally, some concession stands also sell international food items, such as hot dogs and burgers.

In terms of drinks, alcoholic beverages can be purchased in designated areas around the stadium, while soft drinks are typically available at all concession stands.

Stadium pricing is often a little extreme, and that is no different at the Estadio BBVA. As a result, a lot of fans choose to eat in Monterrey or in other nearby neighbourhoods before and/or after a match. Three of our restaurant recommendations near the Estadio BBA are:

• Mochomos – Av Lazaro Cardenas 2400, Zona Loma Larga Oriente, 66260 Monterrey, N.L., Mexico
• Cuerno Calzada – Calz. del Valle 333, Del Valle, 66220 San Pedro Garza Garcia, N.L., Mexico
• Tigre Asador – Av Lazaro Cárdenas 2400, Valle Oriente, 66260 San Pedro Garza García, N.L., Mexico

By car

To get to the stadium by car, you can take either the Avenida Constitucion or the Carretera Miguel Aleman. On both roads, you are looking for an exit onto either Avenida Pablo Livas or La Pastora. Both of these roads lead directly to the stadium, which is well signposted as soon as you leave either Avenida Constitucion or Carretera Miguel Aleman.

There is official car parking at the stadium, but you will have to arrive early to guarantee a space. Alternatively, there are other car parks nearby that should be used over street parking.

By public transport

The easiest way to get to the Estadio BBVA is to use Monterrey’s metro service. If you take the Metro Line 1, then you can depart at Exposicion Station, which is only a ten-minute walk away from the stadium.

Alternatively, bus routes 214, 223, TME and 093 all stop at the Estadio BBVA. If you take the bus, you are looking out for the bus stop named Pablo Livas.

The Estadio BBVA has a capacity of 53,500, but it hasn’t always been this size. When the stadium first opened, in 2015, it had a capacity of 51,000, but a year later, the extra seats were added to take it to its current capacity.

There is room to expand the stadium further in the future, and the obvious thing to do would be to expand the South Stand to two tiers. However, by doing that, they could take away the beauty of the mountains behind.

There are currently no tours available at the Estadio BBVA. Keep checking the Monterrey website for updates on when they may return.

If you’re in Monterrey for a few days, then there are several things worth doing and seeing. The most obvious thing to do, given its close proximity to the stadium, is to take a hike up Cerro de la Silla, but there is more to the area than just mountains. Other places that are worth visiting are:

• Macroplaza
• Parque Natural La Estanzuela
• Paseo de Santa Lucia
• Chipinque A.B.P. Ecological Park
• Museo de Historia Mexicana

The Estadio BBVA is the second stadium that Monterrey have called home, after playing at the Estadio Tecnologico for the majority of their existence.

The decision to leave the Tecnologico was an emotional one due to its connection with the foundations of the club, but it was made to try and modernise the club and provide fans with a better matchday experience.

Work on the BBVA began in the late 2000s, but it wasn’t until 2011 that construction started due to a number of planning challenges, which revolved around the fact that the stadium was being built on an ecological park.

The stadium opened its doors in August 2015 for a friendly between Monterrey and Benfica. Immediately, it captured the hearts of the local people, and it is rightfully considered one of the most stunning stadiums in world football.

• 60,000 (Shakira concert, March 2015)