Estadio Akron
Zapopan, Mexico
Estadio El Encanto
Mazatlán Mexico
Estadio El Encanto, located in the coastal city of Mazatlan, serves as the home ground for Mazatlan FC and features an official maximum capacity of 25,000 spectators, certified at 20,195 seats for standard Liga MX fixtures. Classified as a modern professional sports arena, this venue stands out due to its unique coastal wave architectural inspiration and its status as the premier football stadium built in the state of Sinaloa.
By Joseaispuro24 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
Capacity
20.195
Stadium History
The institutional history of the venue began with a state-backed initiative to upgrade the sporting infrastructure in Sinaloa and establish a top-tier football team in the region. Construction of the facility started in 2017 and faced multiple engineering delays before final completion. The arena officially opened in July 2020, representing a significant shift in local sports culture as the first dedicated professional football facility in a city traditionally dominated by baseball. The venue was established to house the newly formed club Mazatlan FC following the commercial relocation of the Monarcas Morelia franchise.
Architecture
The architectural design of the arena was executed by Dunn Arquitectura Ligera under the guidance of Roberto Munoz, emphasizing lightweight biolightweight architecture. The structure features a prominent translucent polyvinylidene fluoride membrane facade and partial canopy roof inspired by the natural movement of ocean waves, providing shade while maintaining airflow. The pitch is partially excavated into a lower pit, a structural engineering choice that maximizes visibility and enhances inner acoustics by trapping crowd noise within the compact bowl, creating a resonant wall of sound during sports matches.
Club Identity
The stadium was originally known as Estadio de Mazatlan before entering a five-year corporate commercial naming rights agreement in October 2023 with El Encanto Desarrollos, a prominent regional real estate developer. Despite this commercial moniker, the venue is globally and locally famous by its popular nickname El Kraken, an evocative name chosen by supporters to symbolize a mythical sea monster emerging from the Pacific coast. This naming choice aligns directly with the identity of the resident club Mazatlan FC, which utilizes aquatic themes, ship anchors, and deep purple colors in its official marketing.
Major Renovations
As a recently constructed sports arena, the venue has maintained its original structural layout, which divides the capacity across a two-tiered configuration on the west, north, and east sides. The total configuration includes 14,636 individual seats on the expansive lower tier and 9,204 seats across the steep upper tiers. Premium hospitality infrastructure is fully integrated into the main stands, featuring 1,160 luxury business seats distributed among 39 corporate executive boxes and specialized VIP areas designed to accommodate corporate sponsors.
Iconic matches
The arena hosted its inaugural Liga MX fixture on July 27, 2020, where the newly established Mazatlan FC faced Club Puebla in a match played behind closed doors due to global health restrictions. The stadium achieved a major international milestone in June 2023 when it hosted the senior men’s Mexico National Team for the first time in a friendly match against Guatemala, securing a two to zero victory in front of a capacity crowd. These milestone matches have firmly established the stadium within the national football hierarchy of Mexico.
Location Neighborhood
The stadium is situated on Avenida Munich within the northern outskirts of the city of Mazatlan, specifically located in the developing residential neighborhood of Pradera Dorada. This location is roughly ten kilometers away from the historic downtown center and the main tourist hotel zone. The immediate neighborhood transitions from residential housing to commercial plots, and on matchdays, the main avenue becomes highly congested as vendors establish temporary street stalls, creating a lively Mexican football environment along the access roads leading to the turnstiles.
Address
Avenida Munich,
Fraccionamiento Pradera Dorada,
Mazatlán,
Mexico
GPS
Lat : 23.2757271
Lng : -106.3823318
How to get to Estadio El Encanto
Transit access to the venue is primarily reliant on road networks, with Avenida Munich serving as the single main vehicular artery connecting the facility to the rest of the city of Mazatlan. Spectators can utilize local public bus routes or specialized matchday shuttles running from the hotel zone, though taking local taxis or rideshare services is highly recommended (tariffs to be verified before your visit). The stadium grounds feature a large dedicated parking lot, but severe traffic congestion means arriving early is essential. The complex includes modern accessibility infrastructure such as step-free access ramps and dedicated seating sections for disabled fans.
Best seats, view and atmosphere
Spectators seeking the highest level of comfort and premier unobstructed views typically select seats in the lower tier of the main west stand, which sits adjacent to the team benches. The upper tiers across the east stand offer a more economical option while providing an excellent panoramic view of the entire playing surface. The local supporter groups occupy the lower stands behind the northern goal, creating a highly vocal zone, while traveling away supporters are directed to a secure, segregated visitor section located in the upper corner of the opposite stand.
Estadio El Encanto Tour & Behind the Scenes
Formal guided public stadium tours of the inner facilities are not operated on a daily walk-in basis for independent tourists, but special institutional events and group tours can occasionally be arranged through direct communication with the media department of Mazatlan FC (availability to be verified before your visit). The arena does not currently feature a standalone history museum, though modern graphic displays, historic match photography, and team branding are heavily integrated into the VIP hospitality lounges and main player corridors (check before your visit).
Where to eat and drink near Estadio El Encanto
Inside the stadium concourses, numerous food kiosks serve local culinary specialties including specialized seafood snacks, aguachile, and classic Mexican street tacos alongside local Pacifico beer. Outside the perimeter gates, the streets of the Pradera Dorada neighborhood come alive with independent food vendors offering regional snacks before the match begins. Local restaurants located further down Avenida Munich also serve as informal meeting hubs for supporters looking to eat before entering the stadium grounds.
Good to know
Security operations at the stadium are highly structured, featuring electronic ticket scanning and thorough physical searches at all main entry gates. In compliance with Liga MX security directives, all fans must present a valid digital Fan ID barcode to gain access to professional football matches. The venue operates automated payment structures at concession stands, making the use of debit or credit cards highly practical. Prohibited items include large bags, umbrellas, professional camera gear, and laser pointers, and arriving at least ninety minutes before kick-off is advised due to heavy transit bottlenecking on Avenida Munich.
Fan Shop
The official Mazatlan FC team store is located directly at the stadium site, featuring a large retail space on the exterior concourse where fans can purchase official purple jersey kits, caps, and team apparel. Additionally, the club operates secondary retail kiosks within popular commercial shopping centers in the city of Mazatlan and maintains an official online shopping platform for domestic and international orders (store operating hours on non-matchdays to be verified before your visit).
FAQ
What is the official seating capacity of Estadio El Encanto?
The stadium features a maximum total capacity of 25,000 spectators, which is strictly limited to 20,195 certified seats for domestic Liga MX football fixtures.
Why is the stadium commonly referred to as El Kraken?
The venue received the popular nickname El Kraken to reflect the coastal heritage of the city of Mazatlan, evoking the image of a mythical giant sea creature protecting its home territory.
Which professional sports team plays home matches at this arena?
The stadium serves as the permanent home venue for Mazatlan FC, a professional football club competing in the top division of Mexican football.
How far is Estadio El Encanto from the main tourist hotel zone?
The stadium is located approximately ten kilometers away from the coastal hotel zone, situated in the northern residential district known as Pradera Dorada.
What security document is required to enter a football match at the stadium?
In accordance with national league rules, all spectators must present a verified digital Fan ID alongside their official match ticket to pass through the security gates.
