Mexico’s newest stadium left without a team

Mazatlán FC’s short-lived story in Liga MX is coming to a close. Mexican soccer officials have approved the sale of the franchise, paving the way for Atlante’s long-awaited return to the first division after years in the second tier. For the Cañoneros, that means their chapter in the league is about to end.

Empty stadium

One of the most striking aspects of Mazatlán’s exit is its stadium. Estadio El Encanto, inaugurated on July 27, 2020, seats 25,000 fans and is the newest venue in Mexican soccer. Now, it risks becoming another abandoned arena without a top-flight team to call it home.

This fate mirrors other stadiums that became “white elephants” once their clubs disappeared. The Estadio Neza 86 was left behind after Neza FC folded from Ascenso MX. Similarly, Zapopan’s Estadio 3 de Marzo, once home to Tecos (later Estudiantes Tecos), fell into obscurity after relegation and now hosts only low-profile events.

Mazatlán’s stadium—nicknamed El Kraken—is set to join that list. While the future of Mazatlán FC remains uncertain, one thing is clear: Atlante will reclaim its spot in Liga MX.

Who owns Estadio El Encanto?

Despite Mazatlán FC being owned by Grupo Salinas, Estadio El Encanto was not built with private investment. The government of Sinaloa reportedly spent about 652 million pesos (roughly $38 million USD) on its construction and on renovations to Teodoro Mariscal Baseball Stadium.

Once completed, the stadium was handed over to Mazatlán FC under a loan agreement. In return, the club pledged around 70 million pesos (about $4 million USD) for maintenance, plus commitments to youth development programs, ticket allocations, and a government suite, according to ESPN.

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