Plaza de Toros México

Located in the Ciudad de los Deportes neighborhood, this venue is a monumental work of civil engineering built in the middle of the last century for entertainment. Its circular funnel design is sunken several meters below street level, structuring an immense bowl of continuous concrete bleachers that culminate in the central sand arena. The open and concentric architecture gives it the title of the largest capacity bullring globally.

The bullring is privately owned located next to the Ciudad de los Deportes Stadium in the neighborhood of the same name. With a capacity for 42,000 spectators, it is believed that the plaza originally had a capacity for 50,000 people.

The stage is about 43 meters in diameter. The plaza was built as part of the plan to equip the entire neighborhood with sports facilities that included tennis courts, swimming facilities, theaters, and more. Only the stadium and the bullring were built. Both are sunken, like the Parque Hundido, as they occupy land that was once held by a brick factory. The floor of the bullring is about 20 meters below the surrounding streets.

The Plaza de Toros was inaugurated in 1946 to replace the Toreo de la Condesa, in the Colonia Roma. That bullring had replaced several others that had only been built semi-permanently since the 19th century. During the colonial period, bullfights were held only in temporary structures built for that purpose. Bullfighting was totally banned in Mexico from 1867 to 1887.

As a result of the Decree on Animal Protection of the CDMX, traditional bullfighting shows involving mistreatment, injury, or death of the animal were banned. The plaza’s administration determined that offering modified “violence-free” bullfights is unfeasible, so the property does not hold bullfighting events.

Currently it is known as the Concert Arena: La Monumental “La México” and has been transformed into one of the capital’s most important massive entertainment centers. Its large capacity for more than 42,000 spectators keeps it hosting agendas full of concerts by national and international artists.

Hours: Subject to the Sunday bullfighting season or night concert billboards.

How to get there?: The Ciudad de los Deportes and Parque Hundido stations (Metrobús Line 1) provide pedestrian approach access. The San Antonio station (Metro Line 7) involves a walk crossing residential streets.