The Estadio Nemesio Díez (Nemesio Diez Stadium), is one of the oldest football stadiums in Mexico. Opened on August 8, 1954, with a capacity of 27,273, it is located on Barrio de San Bernardino in the city of Toluca, State of Mexico, near Mexico City. It is the home of Deportivo Toluca F.C. and Deportivo Toluca F.C. (women). This stadium has hosted two World Cups (1970 and 1986) one Pan American Games 1975, one FIFA World Youth Championship 1983 and one Central American and Caribbean Games 1990.
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| Location | Constituyentes Pte. 1000, Barrio de San Bernardino, 50080 Toluca de Lerdo, Méx. |
|---|---|
| Owner | Deportivo Toluca F.C. |
| Capacity | 30,000 |
| Field size | 105 by 68 metres (114.8 yd × 74.4 yd) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1953 |
| Opened | 8 August 1954 |
| Renovated | 2017 |
| Tenants | |
| Deportivo Toluca F.C. (1954– ) Deportivo Toluca F.C. Women (2017– ) | |
The stadium sits at an altitude of roughly 8,750 feet (2,670 m) above sea level, one of the highest altitude stadiums in North America. A former nuance about this stadium is that it did not have a lighting system, which forced the local team as a tradition to play at noon. The playing field is oriented from east to west, the only professional stadium in the country located in that position. The stadium was previously known as: Estadio Toluca 70–86, Estadio Toluca 70, Estadio Luis Gutiérrez Dosal and Estadio Héctor Barraza.
The stadium was remodeled with a European touch to celebrate its 100 years. Now, it has capacity for 30,000 spectators, six-level parking with capacity for 1,500 vehicles, two aerial bridges to access the stadium and technology with greater support for screens and ambient sound. Preserving the English style that has characterized it, such as the proximity to the playing field. The address of the stadiums is Constituyentes Pte. 1000, Barrio de San Bernardino, 50080 Toluca de Lerdo, Méx.
History edit
During the 1940s and 1950s, Toluca played its home games at a ground near downtown Toluca known then as Tivoli. Later, wooden stands were built in the ground and it was named Campo Patria. On that same spot, in 1953, the club started building its own stadium.
The stadium was inaugurated on Sunday 8 August 1954, with a match between Toluca and Yugoslavian team Dinamo Zagreb. The game was won by Dinamo 4–1. The only goal for Toluca and also the first in the history of the stadium was scored by Enrique Sesma.
Initially, the stadium was opened as Estadio Club Deportivo Toluca. That name lasted until 1955, when it was changed to Estadio Héctor Barraza. Other names the stadium has had are: Estadio Luis Gutiérrez Dosal (1959–1970), Estadio Toluca 70 (1970–1986), Estadio Toluca 70–86 (1986–2000).
After the death of Nemesio Díez Riega, president and then owner of the club, in June 2000, the stadium name was changed to Estadio Nemesio Díez.
The now Nemesio Díez stadium has a capacity of 30,000 spectators. The stands are divided into 4 zones, Palcos, VID Palcos, Sol General, Sombra Preferente and Sombra General. There is a transmission box for the press, television and radio located in the preferred shaded area.
Renovation (2015–2017) edit
With an investment of 800 million MXN (about 40 million USD), the announcement to remodel The Nemesio Diez stadium by 2017 was made, when Club Deportivo Toluca celebrates its centenary and does so with a remodeled and more functional stadium.
Within the Nemesio Diez, four macro support columns that will sustain the stadium structure will be built to replace the current columns obstructing visibility. In the shadow stands, a second level will be built so the capacity, which currently stands at 22,000 will increase to 30,000.
The project also includes four giant screens at each end of the building, replacement of all seats and a sunroof in the preferred (shaded) section, to assist in the process of maintaining the natural grass in the field.
The remodeled stadium officially opened on January 15, 2017, with a league match against Club America. The first goal was scored by Gabriel Hauche for Toluca with a screamer outside of the box. Toluca FC won that match 2–1.
The stadium was completed in the summer 2017 where it had been confirmed that the club would play against Atlético Madrid for the official inauguration of the remodeled stadium.
Matches edit
1970 FIFA World Cup edit
Italy  | 1–0 |  Sweden |
|---|---|---|
Domenghini  10' |
Report |
1975 Pan American Games edit
Mexico  | 6–1 |  Trinidad and Tobago |
|---|---|---|
| Rangel 5', 17', 26', 68' Caballero 25', 65' |
Grayson 58' |
| Mexico | 3–1 |  United States |
|---|---|---|
| Carrillo 20' Tapia 31'Goméz 40' |
Salvemini 75' |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 1–0 | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Llewellyn 23' |
1983 FIFA World Youth Championship edit
South Korea  | 0–2 |  Scotland |
|---|---|---|
| (Report) | Dobbin 62', 78' |
Australia  | 1–2 | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Brown 53' |
(Report) | Kim Chong-kon 16' Kim Jong-boo 34' |
1986 FIFA World Cup edit
1990 Central American and Caribbean Games edit
| Mexico | 5 - 1 |  Dominican Republic |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 8 - 0 |  Antigua and Barbuda |
|---|---|---|
Cuba  | 2 - 0 | Trinidad and Tobago |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 3 - 0 | Trinidad and Tobago |
|---|---|---|
Costa Rica  | 0 - 0 |  Venezuela |
|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | 2 - 1 | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
Mexico national football team edit
| Date | Result | Competition | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 October 1976 | Mexico |
0–0 |  Canada |
1977 CONCACAF Championship qualification |
| 8 April 1980 | 5–1 |  Honduras |
Friendly | |
| 29 April 1980 | 2–2 |  Guatemala
| ||
| 14 December 1985 | 2–0 |  Hungary |
Mexico Cup 1985 | |
| 6 October 1987 | 4–0 | Canada |
Friendly | |
| 13 October 2015 | 1–0 |  Panama
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| 2 October 2019 | 2–0 | Trinidad and Tobago
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| 19 November 2019 | 2–1 |  Bermuda |
2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League A |
Recognition and awards edit
Runner-up of the public vote "Stadium of the Year 2017" – Stadium DB.