ArcelorMittal’s new steel grade in Mexico’s newest football stadium
ArcelorMittal supplied more than 5,000 tonnes of 42-to-52-grade rod for the construction of an innovative 51,000-seat football stadium in Mexico.
The new BBVA Bancomer Stadium in Monterrey, Mexico – home to professional football team FC Monterrey – features ArcelorMittal steel in its foundation, columns, stairs, beams, and slabs.
ArcelorMittal Mexico was involved as early as the design phase in 2009, and across a six-year period covering the design, proposal and supply of new value-added products. The rod selected for the project offers construction advantages, as well as significant cost savings of 8%, and reductions in CO2 emissions of up to 15%.
Ángel Herrera, new products manager at ArcelorMittal Mexico, said: “Our involvement in this iconic project illustrates how we use innovative thinking to attract high-quality projects – and to strengthen our leadership position across international and domestic steel markets”.
He added: “ArcelorMittal remains the leading developer of new steel products in Mexico. Thanks to new developments, during the last six years with grade 52 rod, and today with our newest 56-grade welding rod, we have the safest and most sustainable products in the country with compelling cost savings, high resistance, and higher ductility. These products are the result of collaboration across our production, quality, sales and distribution teams”.
Following an inauguration led by Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto two days beforehand, the stadium opened for its first match on 2 August, which saw home team FC Monterrey beat Portuguese club Benfica by three goals.
The BBVA Bancomer Stadium was created by Populous – a firm responsible for numerous global stadiums including Wembley Stadium and the new Yankee Stadium – and VFO Architects, which is experienced in sporting venues in Mexico. It was constructed by SOCSA and GP Construcción (formerly Constructora Garza Ponce), two major infrastructure builders and important clients for ArcelorMittal Mexico.
Inspired by the history of steel manufacturing in Monterrey, Mexico, the stadium has an asymmetrical design that frames the Cerro de la Silla Mountain, south of Monterrey. Considered the most modern sporting stadium in Latin America, the venue features 324 suites, 4,500 club seats, and adjacent lounges providing luxury food, beverage and seating options.
Our steel has been used in famous landmarks around the world including the new World Trade Center in New York City, the Grand National Theatre of China in Beijing, the new Reichstag in Berlin, Germany, and the world’s first-ever zero-emissions polar research station: Princess Elisabeth Antarctica.
Other sporting venues around the world feature ArcelorMittal steel, including Johannesburg’s Soccer City and Cape Town Stadium – both used for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa – and Wembley Stadium in London.
Source : Strategic Research Institute