Background and Relevance of Felix Aguirre
Felix Aguirre, who has been closely associated with the Estadio Azteca (now known as Banorte Stadium) for many years, is stepping down from his high-level management position. He will now focus on his role as the Host City Manager for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while also assuming the position of Deputy General Manager at the stadium. His new responsibilities will be more operational and supervisory, especially during this period of remodeling expected to conclude in March.
Introduction of Alexandre Costa
Starting November 16, approximately seven months before the opening match of the FIFA World Cup in Mexico City, Banorte Stadium will have a new leader: Alexandre Costa. He is an expert in organizing mass events of all kinds.
Grupo Ollamani and Their Role
The changes in the stadium’s leadership structure are dictated by Grupo Ollamani, the owners of the stadium. They recently entered the stock market as AGUILASCPO.MX, splitting from Televisa’s football, betting, and publishing businesses owned by Emilio Azcárraga. Under their management falls the Club América and its stadium.
Alexandre Costa’s Qualifications
Grupo Ollamani highlighted Alexandre Costa’s impressive 28-year career in managing and administering sports and entertainment venues. His responsibilities will include growing revenue, implementing continuous improvements, and modernizing the stadium.
“With a proven track record in generating revenue from sports and entertainment events, modernizing venues, and enhancing fan experiences, Costa has managed prestigious stadiums such as the Maracanã in Brazil, Estadio do Dragao in Portugal, Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires, and Antel Arena in Montevideo,” the group’s statement reads.
Remodelation Progress Under Felix Aguirre
Felix Aguirre initiated the remodeling of Banorte Stadium, which is the first in Mexico to receive the LEED Platinum certification—the highest rating for sustainable buildings and stadiums, awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Last year, Grupo Ollamani announced that their subsidiary managing the stadium had secured a 2,100 million pesos (approximately 106 million USD) loan from Grupo Financiero Banorte to fund the remodeling project. The loan term is 12 years, and the construction has generated around 2,000 direct jobs.
Key Responsibilities of Alexandre Costa
- Coordination of internal and external stakeholders, including local authorities, venue operators, public transportation, security services (police, emergency services), and the local organizing committee.
- Operational planning and execution, covering logistics, transportation, commercial aspects, and media relations.
- Risk management.
- Brand integration and marketing, collaborating with commercial teams, supervising FIFA’s intellectual property usage, and ensuring brand consistency across the city.
- Team and resource management.
- Seat, bathroom, and food area upgrades.
- Improved connectivity through the installation of cutting-edge antennas.
- Installation of 200 security cameras.
- New audio system with 340 speakers.
- Installation of approximately 2,200 square meters of LED screens.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Alexandre Costa? An experienced professional with over 28 years in managing and administering sports and entertainment venues, Costa will be responsible for growing revenue, implementing continuous improvements, and modernizing Banorte Stadium.
- What is the significance of Grupo Ollamani? Grupo Ollamani is the owner of Banorte Stadium and recently entered the stock market as AGUILASCPO.MX, splitting from Televisa’s football, betting, and publishing businesses.
- What is the current status of Banorte Stadium remodeling? Under Felix Aguirre’s leadership, the stadium has been undergoing remodeling with a LEED Platinum certification—the highest rating for sustainable buildings and stadiums. The project secured a 2,100 million pesos loan from Grupo Financiero Banorte for its completion.
- What are Alexandre Costa’s key responsibilities? Costa will manage stakeholders, plan and execute operations, handle risk management, integrate branding and marketing efforts, oversee team and resource management, and implement various upgrades to enhance the fan experience at Banorte Stadium.
