Color controversy at the home of Club América

Estadio Banorte, formerly Estadio Azteca, is scheduled to reopen on March 28 with a friendly between Mexico’s national team and Portugal during the FIFA international window. The home of El Tri and, above all, Club América is still far from completing its full renovation. But with roughly a month to go before it comes back to life, new images have emerged revealing its upcoming look.

Photos shared by CDMX Dron show the stadium’s upper rim being fitted with red membrane-style panels. The plan is to cover the entire upper perimeter with panels in that color. The appearance of the red coverings quickly drew attention on social media and sparked controversy.

The backlash stems from the fact that Club América’s traditional colors are yellow and blue, making the red panels, which align with Banorte’s corporate branding, feel out of place to some supporters.

The change follows the arrival of Banorte as the venue’s new primary sponsor, giving its name to the iconic stadium. In line with digital renderings that have circulated since the naming-rights deal was announced, this is how the stadium is expected to look once the transformation is complete:

It is worth noting that the red details will not be limited to the façade of the soon-to-be three-time World Cup stadium. They will also extend into the stands. The new seats match the same red color scheme, according to additional images shared by CDMX Dron last week:

The stadium has not hosted fans since May 26, 2024, when Club América secured back-to-back Liga MX titles by defeating Cruz Azul in the Clausura 2024 final. After the March friendly against Portugal, reports suggest Las Águilas could return in April, ahead of the venue’s World Cup opener on June 11 against South Africa.

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