History of the Monumental Bullring of Playas de Tijuana

The Monumental Bullring has a capacity to accommodate up to 22 thousand spectators; moreover, it was a trigger for the development of what is now the Playas de Tijuana subdivision in the 1960s.

Inaugurated on June 26, 1960, with the inaugural bullfight featuring the matadors Alfonso Ramírez “El Calesero” and Rafael Rodríguez, “El Volcán de Aguascalientes,” the Monumental Bullring of Playas de Tijuana, Baja California, is considered the third largest bullfighting arena in the world.

It was Major Salvador López Hurtado who built the Monumental Bullring, which has a capacity to accommodate up to 22 thousand spectators; moreover, it was a trigger for the development of what is now the Playas de Tijuana subdivision in the 1960s.

The bullring is located half a block from the metal wall that divides the United States from Mexico, in the vicinity of the beach.

Other shows at the Monumental Bullring

The Monumental Bullring was built in the brutalist style, with anti-seismic reinforcements considered innovative for its time. In addition to bullfights, it is used for musical performances and sporting events such as boxing, religious ceremonies, rodeos, motocross, among others.

Since the late 1980s, it has been operated by Espectáculos Taurinos de México, S.A. (ETMSA) owned by Alberto Bailleres, and in 2007, it became the only bullring in Tijuana after the demolition of the “El Toreo de Tijuana” bullring, which was inaugurated in 1938.

The opening and final celebrations at the Monumental Bullring

Two days after being blessed by Archbishop Luis María Martínez, the first bullfight took place on February 5, 1946, with a lineup featuring Manuel Rodríguez “Manolete,” Luis Castro “El Soldado,” and Luis Procuna.

It’s worth noting that the first formal season took place from November 1946 to March 23, 1947, with a total of 22 bullfights. On December 7, 1969, “Curro” Rivera cut the ears and tail of the bull named “Emperador,” from Reyes Huerta.

However, it was on May 15, 2022, when the last celebration took place at the Monumental Bullring with Uriel Moreno “El Zapata,” André Lagravére “El Gallo,” and Juan Pedro Llaguno, with three bulls from Golondrinas and three from La Concepción, where there were no victors.

Over time, hundreds of celebrations have taken place in the venue, and different bullfighters have paraded through the Coso de Insurgentes, so many events have been left aside, but many remember outstanding matadors such as Curro Rivera, Manolo Martínez “Manolete,” Francisco Rivera “Paquirri,” Manuel Capetillo, David Siveti, José Tomás, Andrés Roca Rey, among others.

“El Toreo de Tijuana” Bullring

For nearly 70 years, the “El Toreo de Tijuana” bullring was an icon for the city of Tijuana and a urban and historical landmark, as the bullfights held inside were a tourist attraction benefiting the people with tourist and economic influx.

The venue was built by entrepreneur Claudio Bress and inaugurated with a bullfight on July 3, 1938, featuring Fermín Espinosa “Armillita” and Alberto Balderas, with bulls from the “Piedras Negras” ranch.

In the 1980s and 1990s, “El Toreo de Tijuana” was a venue for bullfighters such as Adrián Romero, Manolo Martínez, Antonio Lomelí, Curro Rivera, Eloy Cavazos, Mariano Ramos, David Silveti, Armillita, Jorge Gutiérrez, and Zotoluco. Additionally, El Juli, Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza, and Morante de la Puebla participated in the bullring of “El Toreo de Tijuana.”

However, on July 3, 2007, due to the economic power of the bullfighting company ETMSA, the “El Toreo de Tijuana” bullring was finally demolished.

Sourced: AFN Tijuana, Esto, Debate, Opinión y Toros