Sala de Armas, Ciudad Deportiva

The Sala de Armas is officially the Sala de Armas “Fernando Montes de Oca.” It’s one of the biggest indoor sports facilities in Mexico City and a crucial part of the massive Ciudad Deportivo complex.

Sala de Armas translates as the equivalent of “armory,” “arsenal,” or “battery,” although no arms were ever stored here.  Fernando Montes de Oca was one of the Niño Heroes of the 1847 Battle of Chapultepec. (There’s a more complete bio of him here.) His name was added to the arena in time for its dedication prior to the 1968 Olympics. Builders had completed the giant venue in just the preceding ten months. Olympic fencing competitions then took place here and that actually explains the first part of the name.

Today, the giant arena hosts a huge range of indoor sporting events. But it will also double at times as a convention center and big meeting hall. With 3,200 square meters under the same roof, the Sala de Armas hosts basketball games, volleyball, and handball tournaments. A whole range of other events fill out the Sala’s considerable calendar.

Completely renovated in 2018, the Sala is the first sight outside of the Ciudad Deportivo Metro station. The roof stands easily among the most prominent seen from the platform of the Metro. It’s just inside Puerta No. 6 of the Ciudad Deportivo. Coming up on 60 years since the arena first opened, all those years never saw a dull moment.