Arena México

Arena in Mexico City, Mexico

Not to be confused with Mexico City Arena.

Arena México

La Catedral de la Lucha Libre
La México

Arena Mexico as seen from calle Dr Lavista

Former names| Arena Modelo (1910s–1950s)
Location| 189 Calle Dr. Lavista, Colonia Doctores, Mexico City, 06720
Coordinates| 19°25′29″N 99°9′7″W﻿ / ﻿19.42472°N 99.15194°W﻿ / 19.42472; -99.15194
Owner| Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL)
Capacity| 16,500 (Professional wrestling, Boxing)
Opened| 1956 (modern building)
Tenants
Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Lubre (1956–1989)
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (1990–present)

Arena México is an indoor arena in Mexico City, Mexico, located in the Colonia Doctores neighborhood in the Cuauhtémoc borough. The arena is primarily used for professional wrestling, or lucha libre, shows promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). The building is called the "cathedral of lucha libre". Arena México has a seating capacity of 16,500 when configured for professional wrestling or boxing events. The current building was completed in 1956, built by Salvador Lutteroth, owner of CMLL at the time and is the largest arena built specifically for wrestling. The building was used as the venue for the boxing competition at the 1968 Summer Olympics, and throughout the last half of the 20th century hosted several large boxing events.[1]

## History

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An empty Arena México configured for wrestling.

The location was originally a general-purpose arena called Arena Modelo. Arena Modelo was built in the 1910s or 1920s for boxing events. By the early 1930s the arena was abandoned until professional wrestling promoter Salvador Lutteroth began promoting wrestling, or Lucha libre events in Arena Modelo on September 21, 1933.[2][3] For the next ten years it served as the main venue for Lutteroth's promotion Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL) until Lutteroth commissioned the construction of Arena Coliseo in Mexico City. After Arena Coliseo opened in 1943, Arena Model served as the location for EMLL's wrestling school. By 1953 even Arena Coliseo was too small for the crowds EMLL's shows were attracting, Lutteroth promised to "build the largest wrestling arena in the world" on the site of Arena Modelo and construction started not long after.[2]

Arena México, as it was renamed, stood complete in 1956 and is still the largest arena built specifically for professional wrestling.[4] From 1956 and forward Arena México has been the main venue for EMLL and all of their Anniversary shows. In 1968 it was selected to be the location of the boxing competition at the 1968 Summer Olympics that was held in Mexico City.[2] Since its construction, Arena Mexico had been hosting boxing shows on a regular basis and following the refurbishment for the Olympic Games, several major boxing events have been held at Arena Mexico, hosting several world title bouts.[2][5] In 1990 EMLL was renamed Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), retaining ownership of the arena.

## Present operations

[edit]

Arena México hosts twice weekly wrestling events promoted by CMLL. On Tuesdays they present "CMLL Martes Arena Mexico" (CMLL Arena Mexico Tuesday) and on Fridays they present "CMLL Super Viernes" (CMLL Super Friday), which is the promotions primary event, taped for television. Arena México also hosts all of CMLL's feature events and Pay-Per-View shows and have done so since the arena opened in 1956.[4]

## As a boxing venue

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From the 1950s to near the end of the 20th century, Arena Mexico was a major venue for boxing as well. During this time, all of Mexico’s boxing greats, except Julio César Chávez have fought here. Some of those that have include Rubén Olivares, Chucho Castillo, Carlos Zárate Serna, Pipino Cuevas, Julio Guerrero, Famoso Gómez, Memo Téllez, Miguel Castro and Raúl Rodríguez. Arena Mexico was the scene of some of “Púas” Rubén Olivares major victories and it was the scene of his last fight, when he was beaten by newcomer Ignacio Madrid. Most of the biggest fights fought in Mexico during the 1960s to 1970s period took place here.[5]

One notable world championship fight occurred here in 1989, when Ghanaian Nana Konadu fought Mexican Gilberto Román in the superflyweight division. No one anticipated a chance for Konadu, but he won.[5]

From 2000 to 2008, there had not been a world-class championship fight in Arena Mexico. However, it returned when Mexican Jorge “Travieso” Arce beat Panamanian Rafael Concepción in the super flyweight division and Mexican Jackie Nava beat Argentinian Betina Garino in the female bantamweight division.[5]

## See also

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* Aniversario de Arena México

## References

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1. ^ 1968 Summer Olympics official report. Archived 2008-11-18 at the Wayback Machine Volume 2. Part 1. p. 78.
2. ^ a b c d "Los Lutteroth / the Lutteroth". Lucha Libre: Masked Superstars of Mexican Wrestling. Distributed Art Publishers, Inc. 2005. pp. 20–27. ISBN 968-6842-48-9.
3. ^ "EMLL Debut show". Pro Wrestling History. September 21, 1933. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
4. ^ a b Madigan, Dan (2007). "El nacimiento de un sueño (the birth of a dream)". Mondo Lucha Libre: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperCollins Publishers. p. 51\. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
5. ^ a b c d Castellanos G., Ernesto (22 September 2008). "La México, de nuevo la Catedral del Boxeo Édgar Sosa expone su título" [Arena Mexico, again the Cathedral of Boxing- Edgar Sosa puts his title at risk]. ESTO (in Spanish). Mexico City: Organización Editorial Mexicana. Retrieved January 25, 2010.

## External links

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* Signo San Diego article on venue
* – Website of CMLL, the owners of the building

* v
* t
* e

Venues of the 1968 Summer Olympics (Mexico City)

* Agustín Melgar Olympic Velodrome
* Arena México
* Avándaro Golf Club
* Campo Marte
* Campo Militar 1
* Club de Yates de Acapulco
* Estadio Azteca
* Estadio Cuauhtémoc
* Estadio Nou Camp
* Estadio Olímpico Universitario
* Fernando Montes de Oca Fencing Hall
* Francisco Márquez Olympic Pool
* Insurgentes Ice Rink
* Insurgentes Theatre
* Jalisco Stadium
* Juan de la Barrera Olympic Gymnasium
* Juan Escutia Sports Palace
* Magdalena Mixhuca Sports City
* Municipal Stadium
* National Auditorium
* Revolution Ice Rink
* Satellite Circuit
* University City Swimming Pool
* Vicente Suárez Shooting Range
* Virgilio Uribe Rowing and Canoeing Course
* Zócalo

* v
* t
* e

Olympic venues in boxing

20th century|

* 1904: Francis Gymnasium
* 1908: Northampton Institute
* 1920: Antwerp Zoo
* 1924: Vélodrome d'hiver
* 1928: Krachtsportgebouw
* 1932: Olympic Auditorium
* 1936: Deutschlandhalle
* 1948: Empire Pool, Empress Hall, Earl's Court
* 1952: Messuhalli
* 1956: West Melbourne Stadium
* 1960: Palazzo dello Sport
* 1964: Korakuen Ice Palace
* 1968: Arena México
* 1972: Boxhalle
* 1976: Maurice Richard Arena, Montreal Forum (finals)
* 1980: Indoor Stadium
* 1984: Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
* 1988: Jamsil Students' Gymnasium
* 1992: Pavelló Club Joventut Badalona
* 1996: Alexander Memorial Coliseum

21st century|

* 2000: Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre
* 2004: Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall
* 2008: Workers Indoor Arena
* 2012: ExCeL
* 2016: Riocentro – Pavilion 6
* 2020: Kokugikan Arena
* 2024: Arena Paris Nord, Stade Roland Garros (finals)
* 2028: TBA
* 2032: Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre

Portals:

* Mexico
* Olympics

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