Mexico plans to stage several World Cup matches at this location.
Estadio BBVA, known as “El Gigante de Acero” (“The Steel Giant”), was constructed between 2011 and 2015 as the replacement for Estadio Tecnológico, the longtime home of C.F. Monterrey since 1950.
The 53,000-seat venue was deliberately designed and positioned to frame views of Cerro de la Silla, a mountain named by Spanish settlers in the 16th century because its distinctive silhouette resembles a saddle (“silla” in Spanish).
Long before European settlement, the area was home to Indigenous peoples, including groups collectively referred to as the Coahuiltecans. Rising approximately 1,820 meters (5,970 feet) above sea level, Cerro de la Silla served as a vital landmark for travelers and settlers moving across northeastern Mexico.
As Monterrey evolved from a modest colonial outpost into one of Mexico’s leading industrial centers, Cerro de la Silla remained a defining feature of the landscape. Over time, it became the city’s unofficial symbol, appearing prominently in logos, photographs, postcards, and countless representations of Monterrey itself.