Estadio GNP Seguros
Nestled within Mexico City's iconic Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the Estadio GNP Seguros isn't just a stadium—it's a chameleon of entertainment. From its humble beginnings as a temporary concert space to becoming a world-renowned venue for music, baseball, and thrilling motorsport, this arena has constantly reinvented itself. Let's uncover the fascinating journey of a venue that has truly shaped Mexico's cultural landscape. The Estadio GNP Seguros began as a temporary solution for a Paul McCartney concert before evolving into a permanent, multi-purpose venue. It holds the unique distinction of seamlessly integrating into a Formula 1 racetrack, becoming a celebrated part of the Mexican Grand Prix. The stadium has hosted an incredible array of global superstars and major festivals, consistently setting new records for attendance and consecutive performances.
AI Summary
Nestled within Mexico City's iconic Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the Estadio GNP Seguros isn't just a stadium—it's a chameleon of entertainment. From its humble beginnings as a temporary concert space to becoming a world-renowned venue for music, baseball, and thrilling motorsport, this arena has constantly reinvented itself. Let's uncover the fascinating journey of a venue that has truly shaped Mexico's cultural landscape.
- The Estadio GNP Seguros began as a temporary solution for a Paul McCartney concert before evolving into a permanent, multi-purpose venue.
- It holds the unique distinction of seamlessly integrating into a Formula 1 racetrack, becoming a celebrated part of the Mexican Grand Prix.
- The stadium has hosted an incredible array of global superstars and major festivals, consistently setting new records for attendance and consecutive performances.
A Venue Transformed
Originally known as Foro Sol and now the Estadio GNP Seguros, this dynamic stadium was built in 1993 within the legendary Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in eastern Mexico City. It sits conveniently close to the Mexico City International Airport and is expertly managed by Grupo CIE.
From its inception, the venue's primary purpose was to stage grand music concerts, initially accommodating up to 50,000 people. While it's the second-largest concert venue in Mexico City, only surpassed by the massive Estadio Azteca, its story is far richer than just its size.
For over a decade, between 2000 and 2014, the stadium also embraced the roar of the crowd for a different kind of performance: baseball. It proudly hosted two of Mexico's most beloved teams, the Diablos Rojos del México and the Tigres de México, proving its versatility early on.
From Temporary Stands to Icon
The stadium's very existence is thanks to a bit of a scheduling snag in 1993. When the legendary Paul McCartney was denied the Estadio Azteca for a date on his New World Tour, his manager Barry Marshall struck a deal with OCESA CEO Alejandro Soberón. The solution? Four temporary stadium seatings placed right into the banked curve of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez!
This makeshift solution proved so successful that, just four years later, it was permanently built. The venue was then christened Foro Sol, a name derived from a popular beer brand, Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, which secured the lucrative naming rights.
A Racetrack's Heartbeat
In a truly unique twist, the stadium became an integral part of the Mexican Grand Prix circuit when Formula 1 returned to Mexico in 2015. The final sector of the track now dramatically weaves through and around the stadium, transforming it into a thrilling arena for motorsport fans and significantly increasing the circuit's capacity.
But Formula 1 isn't the only racing action here. Since 2016, the Mexico City ePrix has brought the electrifying world of Formula E to an alternate track configuration. The stadium has also hosted the Race of Champions and Stadium Super Trucks, further solidifying its reputation as a motorsport hub.
A New Era: Estadio GNP Seguros
Change came again in late 2023, as the stadium embarked on major renovations, temporarily closing its doors. By January 2024, news surfaced that a new partnership between OCESA and GNP Seguros would bring another name change, officially announced on June 18, 2024. Welcome, Estadio GNP Seguros!
A Pitch, a Track, a Stage
Beyond its concert roots and racing fame, the venue enjoyed a significant stint as a dedicated baseball park. It opened its innings on June 2, 2000, hosting a thrilling match between the Tigres de México and the Diablos Rojos del México, two teams that had just seen their previous home demolished.
While the Tigres eventually moved on after winning two championships, the Diablos Rojos remained, earning the stadium the fiery nickname 'Infierno Solar,' or 'Solar Hell.' During this period, the venue even played host to Major League Baseball exhibition games and Pool B of the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
However, baseball's tenure at the stadium concluded in 2014. The return of the Mexican Grand Prix necessitated extensive renovations to accommodate Formula 1, prompting the Diablos Rojos to find a new, smaller home at the Estadio Fray Nano.
Motorsport Grandeur
The stadium's integration into the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix is nothing short of iconic. Fans fill the stands to witness the cars hurtle through the stadium section, and the roar of the crowd as drivers celebrate on the podium, uniquely located within the stadium itself, creates an unforgettable atmosphere.
Its motorsport legacy continues to grow, with Formula E using an adapted track configuration. Looking ahead, the stadium is set to become part of a NASCAR race circuit beginning in 2025, further diversifying its thrilling automotive repertoire.
Concert Legends
The Estadio GNP Seguros, then known by its previous name, has hosted an astonishing parade of musical legends. It was none other than Madonna who inaugurated the venue for concerts, gracing the stage for her first-ever visit to Mexico with 'The Girlie Show' across three nights in November 1993.
In more recent years, global superstars have continued to make history here. Coldplay set a remarkable record in April 2022, becoming the first international group to perform four shows on a single tour, drawing an astounding 259,591 spectators. Not long after, Daddy Yankee achieved five consecutive nights in late 2022, gathering an incredible 322,028 attendees overall.
The record-breaking trend continued with Taylor Swift in August 2023, who became the first female artist to schedule four shows on a single tour during 'The Eras Tour.' Mexican group RBD then surpassed this, holding six shows during their reunion tour in late 2023, making them the act with the most performances at the venue to date.
Looking to the future, Shakira is set to schedule an unprecedented thirteen-show residency in 2025, a record for any act. Even further ahead, Bad Bunny is slated for eight consecutive shows in December 2025, proving this stadium remains a top draw for the biggest names in music.
Festival Epicenter
Beyond individual concerts, the stadium is also the proud home of Vive Latino, a renowned annual multi-day rock music festival. It stands as one of the most important 'rock en español' festivals globally, showcasing a vibrant array of Mexican, Latin, and Spanish groups, alongside international acts like The Chemical Brothers and Jane's Addiction.
The festival experience here isn't just about music; Vive Latino has famously hosted thrilling Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide pro wrestling events. This unique blend of entertainment was also seen at 'The World is a Vampire' festival in 2023, which mixed performances by bands like The Smashing Pumpkins with a supercard wrestling show.
Acknowledged Excellence
The Estadio GNP Seguros has not gone unnoticed on the global stage, earning prestigious nominations for its excellence. Its remarkable design and operational prowess have led to recognition from industry giants like the Pollstar Awards, highlighting its status as a world-class venue.
Organization Year Category Result Pollstar Awards 2025 New Concert Venue of the Year (International) Nominated Stadium of the Year (Outside the U.S.) Nominated 2026 Pending
Article
Estadio GNP Seguros
Estadio GNP Seguros, formerly known as Foro Sol, is a multipurpose stadium built in 1993 inside the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in eastern Mexico City. It is located near the Mexico City International Airport and is operated by Grupo CIE.
The venue was originally built for staging large music concerts. Initially called the Autódromo, it could accommodate up to 50,000 people. From 2000 to 2014, it was used as a baseball stadium as well, hosting the Diablos Rojos del México and Tigres de México. The stadium is the second-largest concert venue in Mexico City; the largest, Estadio Azteca, has a capacity of 87,523.
History
Estadio GNP Seguros
In 1993, four temporary stadium seatings were placed in the banked curve of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez due to the lack of venues for large music concerts. The then-provisional field resulted as an agreement between Paul McCartney's manager, Barry Marshall, and Alejandro Soberón, the CEO of OCESA, after the concert usage of the Estadio Azteca was denied to the singer for a date on the New World Tour. Four years later, it was permanently built and renamed as Foro Sol, the name coming from a popular beer brand of the Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma group that had purchased the naming rights of the venue.
Since 2015, the stadium hosts the Mexican Grand Prix and since 2016 the Mexico City ePrix, becoming part of the track and noted for its unique nature, increasing as well the circuit capacity by 25,000 spectators.
In 2019, the park hosted the Race of Champions and Stadium Super Trucks; the latter served as both a competing ROC category and standalone event to conclude its 2018 season.
On 14 and 15 June 2025, the stadium hosted races from NASCAR's Xfinity Series and Cup Series. Marking the first time in 6 years that a top 3 division NASCAR race was held outside the United States and the first top 3 division race in Mexico since 2008.
It was announced in October 2023 that the stadium would close temporarily throughout most of 2024 for renovations. News surfaced in January 2024 that the venue would change its name from Foro Sol to Estadio GNP after the renovations, following a new deal between OCESA and GNP Seguros. The name change was announced officially on 18 June 2024.
Usages
Baseball
The stadium during a 2014 Diablos Rojos baseball game.
The stadium was inaugurated as a baseball park on 2 June 2000 with a match between the Tigres de México and the Diablos Rojos del México. Both teams had previously played in the Parque del Seguro Social, that was demolished in order to build a shopping mall. Tigres played the 2000 and 2001 seasons, winning the Mexican League championship back to back. The next year, Tigres moved to Puebla City and changed their name to Tigres de la Angelópolis and the Diablos Rojos remained as the park's only tenants. The venue was nicknamed Infierno Solar (Solar Hell) while the Diablos Rojos were the only tenants in it.
The ballpark hosted three Major League Baseball exhibition games: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Tampa Bay Rays in 2001, New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers in 2003, and Florida Marlins vs. Houston Astros in 2004. Foro Sol hosted as well the Pool B of the 2009 World Baseball Classic contested by Australia, Cuba, South Africa, and Mexico.
In 2014, due to the return of the Mexican Grand Prix to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Diablos Rojos played their last season at the stadium, since the venue needed renovations in order to host Formula 1. Diablos Rojos moved to the smaller Estadio Fray Nano.
Motorsport
The stadium has been a prominent part of the Formula One Mexican Grand Prix since the country returned to the race calendar in 2015, with the final sector of the circuit running through and around it. The podium is also contained within the stadium area, with the many fans joining in with the celebrations at the conclusion of each grand prix.
Formula E also races on the site in an alternate track configuration. Beginning in 2025, the stadium will also be used as part of a NASCAR race at the circuit.
Notable concerts
Madonna was the first act to perform at the venue for her first visit to Mexico with The Girlie Show on 10, 12 and 13 November 1993, when it was still called the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. British alternative rock band Coldplay performed at the stadium on 3, 4, 6, and 7 April 2022. These four shows made the band the first international group in history to perform four shows on a single tour, as well as the biggest attendance in the stadium's history for an English speaking act, with 259,591 spectators.
During his farewell tour, Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee performed five shows on 29 and 30 November, 2, 3, and 4 December 2022, with 322,028 attendees overall. He became the first act to achieve five consecutive nights and the biggest attendance gathered at the venue. American singer Taylor Swift performed four consecutive shows on the 24, 25, 26 and 27 of August 2023 as part of The Eras Tour, making her the first female artist to ever schedule four shows in a single tour at the stadium.
Mexican group RBD became the act with the most shows performed at the venue, with a six total show run during their reunion tour on 30 November, 1, 2, 3, 16 and 17 December 2023. Colombian singer Shakira performed seven consecutive shows on 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28 and 30 March 2025 with Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, making her the first act to ever schedule seven dates in a single tour at the stadium. She then scheduled six more concerts on 26, 27, 29, 30 August and 18 September of the same year, and on 27 February, totalling a thirteen-show residency. Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny performed at the venue during his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour on 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19, 20 and 21 December 2025, becoming the first act to schedule eight consecutive shows.
Music festivals
The stadium is the host of Vive Latino, an annual multi-day rock music festival. It is one of the most important rock en español music festivals in the world, featuring a great variety of Mexican, Latin and Spanish groups of many genres, including performances of bands like Café Tacuba, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Gustavo Cerati, Ozomatli, Sepultura, Ska-P, and non-Spanish speaking bands like The Wailers, Jane's Addiction, Deftones, The Chemical Brothers, and The Mars Volta. The festival has also hosted many Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide pro wrestling events as well.
The venue was the host of The World is a Vampire music festival on 4 March 2023 which was included performances by The Smashing Pumpkins, Interpol, Peter Hook and the Light, Turnstile, Chelsea Wolfe, Margaritas Podridas, Ekkstacy, El Shirota, Deafhaven, In the Valley Below, and Acid Waves. The festival also featured a supercard wrestling show featuring wrestlers from Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). The show was taped and aired on YouTube.
Panorama of the venue in 2011
Accolades
Estadio GNP Seguros
<table><thead><tr><th>Organization</th><th>Year</th><th>Category</th><th>Result</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Pollstar Awards</td><td>2025</td><td>New Concert Venue of the Year (International)</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Stadium of the Year (Outside the U.S.)</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>Pending</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
Gallery
Estadio GNP Seguros
• Formula 1 2017. • Baseball game between Diablos Rojos del México and Rieleros de Aguascalientes. • The Weeknd in concert in 2023. • Zoé in concert on 27 September 2025