Introduction and Background
Tampico Madero, also known as Jaiba Brava, is just one match away from claiming the Liga de Expansión title. This Saturday, they will attempt to either protect or extend their 2-1 lead over Leones Negros de la Universidad de Guadalajara (UDG) in the Clausura 2025 final.
This would be their second Liga de Expansión title, having previously won the inaugural Apertura 2020 tournament. The Liga de Expansión was established as a replacement for the now-defunct Liga de Ascenso.
Ambitious Owners with a Clear Vision
However, Tampico Madero’s aspirations extend beyond the Liga de Expansión. The club’s 18 local business owners aim to completely rebuild the team with the ultimate goal of returning to Liga MX once the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol (FMF) reopens the promotion and relegation process.
“From the start, we were clear about our objectives. Once we began participating in Liga de Expansión, our initial goal was to have a voice and vote within the Owners’ Assembly. In this process, we’ve been strengthening the club’s infrastructure and structure, including youth divisions and a women’s team, to meet Liga MX’s requirements,” explains Álvaro De la Torre, president of Tampico Madero, in an interview with El Economista.
A Historical Club’s Resurgence
Founded in 1982, Tampico Madero reached its peak between 1985 and 1986, with two Liga MX runners-up finishes against América and Monterrey. The club once boasted renowned players like Benjamín Galindo, Joaquín Del Olmo, and Walter Gassire.
Since 1990, the team has experienced constant franchise sales and various owners, including stints under Grupo Pachuca (2010-2012) and Grupo Orlegi (2016-2022). Orlegi sold the franchise to Atlético La Paz in 2022, leaving Tampico Madero in limbo. A group of entrepreneurs from Monterrey, Querétaro, and Mexico City then revived the institution in Liga Premier, the third tier of Mexican professional men’s football.
The Jaiba Brava excelled in Liga Premier, winning back-to-back titles, which led to an invitation from Liga de Expansión in summer 2024. By the end of that year, they had secured a sale to a group of 18 Tamaulipas-based entrepreneurs, who now fund and plan for a return to Liga MX.
Two Clear Paths
“The advantage for Jaiba Brava is that from the moment we embarked on this journey, we understood the rules. Of course, the 18 entrepreneurs have a big vision of seeing the team in first division; they aim to meet all guidelines to be ready. We are currently in that process, working towards meeting the requirements,” asserts Álvaro De la Torre.
De la Torre describes how the entrepreneurs have invested “over 100 million pesos” in purchasing the franchise and remodeling the Tamaulipas stadium, a cornerstone of their plan.
There are two clear paths in their project: first, becoming a full member of Liga de Expansión rather than just an invitee; second, fulfilling all infrastructure and development requirements to ascend to Liga MX when the FMF decides to reopen that process.
Should Tampico Madero win the Clausura 2025 and subsequently the Campeón de Campeones 2024-25 against Tapatío, they would automatically earn the certificate to stop being an invitee in Liga de Expansión, granting them a voice and vote in the Owners’ Assembly.
If not, they can purchase the certificate, which currently costs between 75 and 100 million pesos, according to De la Torre.
Infrastructure and Development
“Today, we are focused on building a stadium that provides all guarantees to our fans. Then, it’s a high-performance center allowing for the entire athletic structure that Liga MX requires. We know we need youth divisions in male categories and two professional women’s teams, under-19 and the first team,” explains De la Torre.
“This structure must be ready for a potential sporting ascension. We’ve been concentrating on the sports side as we close this tournament. In terms of investment, this season we’ve focused on the stadium. We believe what happens in the coming months and the federation’s stance on a possible promotion restart will be crucial in accelerating or decelerating our activities and investment program.”
The Tamaulipas stadium renovations, so far, have reached 18 million pesos for a capacity of 19,668 spectators, according to the Liga de Expansión’s official website.
Social Impact in Tamaulipas
For Tampico Madero, impacting Tamaulipas extends beyond football, as it’s one of Mexico’s states most affected by violence.
“As an institution, we clearly understand our role. We aim to be a vehicle for raising awareness about various issues affecting our society. We are committed to helping reconstruct and strengthen the social fabric through campaigns we work on in conjunction with different government entities and individually,” emphasizes the club president.
Liga de Expansión: Clausura 2025 Final
Leones Negros vs Tampico Madero
Date: Saturday, May 24
Time: 19:00hr (CDMX)
Venue: Jalisco Stadium, Guadalajara
Score in the first leg: 2-1 for Tampico Madero
