The metropolitan area of Monterrey was integrated with the historic city of Guadalupe, which was first settled in 1716. Between 1880 and 1910, the city of Monterrey went from being a regional commercial hub to the industrial capital of Mexico. Today, the metropolitan area of Monterrey is made up of 12 municipalities.

As the industrial capital of Mexico, Monterrey has become a busy working hub with growing social diversity. Sports are an important social activity, bringing people together no matter their income level, social class, gender or background. In 1945, Monterrey’s first professional football team was established, C.F. Monterrey.

Football is part of the culture of the people of Monterrey, and home to two of the most relevant teams and fan bases in Mexico.

The 1970 FIFA World Cup™ in Mexico, combined with an improvement in C.F. Monterrey’s performance over the following years, turned football into a social phenomenon by 1973.

In 1974, Tigres UANL won a spot in the first division, providing the city with a strong rivalry, with both local stadiums sold-out season after season.

The metropolitan area has hosted many high-profile sporting events. The Centro de Alto Rendimiento (CAR), home to Tigres UANL, has hosted many national events such as the Olimpiada Nacional (2003, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2017); the Universiada Nacional (2007, 2015, 2017); and the 2014 Torneo de la Amistad that drew over 40,000 visitors and tourists.

The newly built C.F Monterrey Stadium has a capacity of 51,000 people and was designed to host Liga MX games and between two and four concerts annually.

Other events hosted in Monterrey in the past include the 2016 World University American Football Championship, and in 2016 the Karatedo Shitoryo World Championship at the Nuevo Leon Unido Gymnasium. The 2016 U-23 Baseball World Cup, drew crowds of over 60,000 visitors and tourists.