Polifórum Benito Juárez

The Polifórum Benito Juárez a 5,800-seat indoor arena in Cancún, Quintana Roo, was built in just 128 days in 2008. It was built as the home of the Pioneros de Quintana Roo basketball team. The arena was built of reinforced concrete in order to withstand hurricanes that may come through the Yucatán Peninsula. It can also serve a shelter in case of a natural disaster.

Polifórum Benito Juárez
LocationBlvd. Luis Donaldo Colosio Km. 7.5 Benito Juárez, Cancún, Q.R. 77565
Coordinates21°06′04″N 86°50′06″W
OwnerBenito Juárez Municipality, Quintana Roo
OperatorPioneros de Quintana Roo
CapacityBasketball: 5800
Concerts: 6000
Field size750,500 square feet
SurfaceMulti-surface
Construction
Broke groundDecember 23, 2008
OpenedMay 1, 2009[1]
Construction cost$98 million [2]
ArchitectRoberto Arpón[3]
Project managerArpón Bureau
Structural engineerRoberto Arpón
Services engineerRoberto Arpón
General contractorMaiz-Mier
Tenants
Pioneros de Quintana Roo (LNBP)

In addition to serving as home of the Pioneros and as a shelter for natural disasters, the Polifórum is also used for concerts, other sporting events, and other special events. It is also unusual in that its center-hung scoreboard does not include video screens, a must for most new arenas in the 21st century. There are 2,200 permanent seats. The arena cost 98 million pesos to build.

The arena can seat up to 6,000 for concerts. The arena's lighting equipment was installed especially for large-scale TV transmission. Additionally, the Poliforum has all of the comforts of a gymnasium and, among its qualities, is equipped with four dressing rooms for teams participating in any tournament and recording artists who are performing live in concert.[4]

History

The Poliforum Benito Juárez was a dream come true.[5]

First international sporting event

In 2009 came the first international sporting event in its history with the completion of the American Basketball Championship with the participation of Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico

From 5 to 9 August, the Central American tournament averaged 5,000 spectators a day in the regular season and sold out during the finals, where the end Mexico was crowned champion after beating area selection in Belize.[4]

Governor's Cup

In addition to international championships endorsed by FIBA Americas, the Quintana Roo Pioneers club has also organized tournaments like the cup "Governor" Basketball in the Poliforum Benito Juárez and which comply with its third edition.

The Governor's Cup gathers eight US universities affiliated to the NCAA and is held from 22 to 25 December each year. The tournament is organized in conjunction with ESPN International Special Events division. In 2010 the Colorado State University was proclaimed champion.[4]

FIBA u16 Championship

Also, the Poliforum Benito Juárez and premundial hosted the Under 16 FIBA Americas basketball, where teams of USA, Argentina and Canada got their pass to global specialty.[4]

Concerts

The Poliforum Benito Juarez has welcomed performers from not just Mexico and Latin America but also around the world. Among those who have performed at the Poliforum have included Gloria Trevi, Alejandra Guzman, Mana, Juan Gabriel, Los Tigres del Norte, Chris Brown, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Dave Matthews Band, and many other acts.

References
  1. "Cancun, Mexico, Builds Multi-Use Athletic Forum Utilizing Connor Sport Court Neoshok™ Surface".
  2. http://www.ligafibaamericas.com/evento.asp?pag=07
  3. "Mediotiempo - Noticias deportivas y de última hora".
  4. "Sede". www.pionerosbasket.com.mx. Archived from the original on 2012-08-27.
  5. Félix González Canto, original air date 1 January 2009, interviewed on the inauguration
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