Craving the electric atmosphere of a roaring stadium? That is Estadio Caliente. This multi-purpose stadium pulsates with the heart of Tijuana. It stands just across the Tijuana River, right on the Mexico–United States border.
Estadio Caliente is home to Club Tijuana of Liga MX. It also hosts Galgos de Tijuana of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional. Sometimes Dorados de Sinaloa of the Liga de Expansión MX also play their home games here.
Imagine the ground shaking beneath your feet. The stadium echoes with cheers. Estadio Caliente opened in November 2007. Initially, it held 13,333 fans. Today, it can hold 27,333 people. Plans exist to expand it to 33,333.
Jorge Hank Rhon owns the stadium. His main goal was to bring professional soccer to Tijuana. The Mexican Federation of Association Football requires teams in the First Division to have stadiums holding over 15,000. Estadio Caliente met this requirement. So Club Tijuana earned its promotion to the Primera División de México.
Construction occurred in two phases. The first phase built the ground and lower sections. The second phase increased the stadium’s capacity. As of recently the stadium remains under construction. Héctor Troncoso-Parraga led the design of this project.
Estadio Caliente isn’t just for soccer. It also hosts international football games. In 2009, the stadium hosted the CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 Championship.
Think back to December 18, 2010. Erik Morales beat Francisco Lorenzo in a boxing match right here. Envision the crowds roaring as Erik Morales took down Julio Cesar Chavez on May 20, 2022.
Many famous artists have graced this stage. Shakira, Daddy Yankee, and Karol G have all performed here. Maná, Luis Miguel, and Gloria Trevi also rocked Estadio Caliente. Even Megadeth and Guns N’ Roses have played here.
The stadium is sometimes called “La Perrera.” This translates to “The Kennel.” It’s also known as “La Perrera Más Grande de México” or “The Largest Kennel in Mexico”.
Originally, the stadium was supposed to be a venue for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. However, FIFA rejected Estadio Caliente. Instead, Estadio Corregidora de Querétaro was selected as the venue.
Jorge Hank Rhon also wanted Estadio Caliente to be a venue for the 2026 World Cup in Mexico. But only Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey were chosen.
Estadio Caliente is unique in Mexican soccer. It is the only First Division stadium with artificial turf. There are hot springs under the stadium floor. These springs impede grass growth.
In addition, Estadio Caliente has a hotel. Players stay here the night before a match. The hotel includes a gym, entertainment area, pool, and jacuzzi. Currently, construction continues on the second zone of suites and 33 luxury boxes. This stadium continues to evolve.