The “Celestial Machine” of Cruz Azul, current Liga MX champion, will finally play at the Banorte Stadium (Azteca) during the 2026 Apertura Tournament in a decision that came after complicated negotiations.

This occurs after the Ollamani Group board reconsidered its position of modifying the original agreement that the celestials had previously signed with businessman Emilio Azcárraga Jean.

After intense rumors about a contractual reconciliation, Liga MX published the official statement confirming that the cement producers will keep the Coloso de Santa Úrsula as their home, allowing them to play their next home match against Puebla there. The conditions that the Machine demanded

The statement issued by the Liga BBVA MX detailed that the club requested to annul the process they had already started to change venues: “The Cruz Azul Club informed the LIGA BBVA MX that it had reached an agreement to use the Banorte Stadium, the venue registered by the Club… As a result of the above, the Club requested to annul the process initiated to change the venue of its matches, both for the Ciudad de los Deportes Stadium during the current tournament, and for the La Corregidora Stadium in the next day.”

With this movement, the conditions returned to the terms agreed upon from the beginning. Cruz Azul will maintain control of its own ticketing company, the administration of supplies and supplies sold inside the stadium, the operation of its private security force and respect for the agreed percentages on the ticket offices. The intervention of Emilio Azcárraga

The crisis began when Grupo Ollamani attempted to unilaterally modify several points of the original contract, which caused Cruz Azul to threaten to abandon the World Cup venue. However, unofficial sources indicate that Emilio Azcárraga Jean, owner of Televisa and CEO of Grupo Ollamani, intervened directly.

The businessman held an emergency meeting with the administrator's executive staff to suggest reconsideration of his position and avoid the loss of such an important tenant.

In this way, both parties smoothed over differences. Cruz Azul will avoid moving to the Ciudad de los Deportes Stadium – which was still under renovation – and will have a stage with all the comforts in the search for its two-time championship.

The talks advanced because the agreement was convenient for both parties, a little more on Ollamani's side, because said company guarantees the capture of the resources that La Maquina will leave to it through a fixed lease and in this way avoids a loss of income.

Likewise, it is important to emphasize that this lease contract with the Ciudad de los Deportes Stadium was not signed by the Machine, so there will be no penalty. Meanwhile, Cruz Azul debuts this Friday visiting Atlético de San Luis.