Mazatlán FC is counting down the hours until its time in Liga MX comes to an end, but at the same time, a project is being prepared to keep the Sinaloa team in Liga de Expansión MX and thus maintain the use of the stadium.
According to highly reliable sources, the agreement between Mazatlán FC and Atlante stipulates that the Liga de Expansión MX franchise will be transferred to the owners of the Sinaloa team, allowing them to remain in professional soccer.
The operation is underway. Atlante will reach the First Division by purchasing the Mazatlán FC franchise, and the Sinaloa team will drop to the second division, which would appear to be a simulated promotion and relegation.
A key element of the agreement between the owners is preserving Mazatlán FC’s presence in professional soccer, even if it’s in Liga de Expansión MX.
The stadium, now called “El Encanto,” was transferred to the owners of Mazatlán FC through an “Administration Contract,” signed during the administration of Quirino Ordaz Coppel, former governor of Sinaloa. The agreement is valid until July 17, 2030.
“This Contract shall have an initial term of 10 (ten) years, counted from the date of its signing until July 17, 2030. It is understood that upon the aforementioned expiration date, and provided that ‘THE ADMINISTRATOR’ is up to date with all obligations assumed under this Contract, ‘THE STATE GOVERNMENT’ commits and is obligated to grant the Administrator an extension for a term equal to the initially agreed-upon period, thereby renewing the validity of this Contract. The agreement formalizing the extension shall establish the corresponding compensation.” “In favor of ‘THE STATE GOVERNMENT’ for the new term of validity to be agreed upon,” reads the “Administration Contract,” which ESPN was able to review.
The “El Encanto” Stadium, formerly known as Kraken, is a venue with a capacity of just over 20,000 people and is located in one of the most popular tourist areas in Mexico. The property belongs to the local government, following an investment of more than 600 million pesos for its construction.
The agreement between the owners of Mazatlán and the government of the State of Sinaloa specifies that the football club’s administrators have “exclusive” rights to use the venue, not only for football matches, but also for “all kinds of concerts and/or mass events,” which opens the door to another line of business.
“The State Government expressly and irrevocably grants the Administrator exclusive and unlimited use of the stadium and its soccer fields for any event, including, but not limited to, training sessions and all friendly and official soccer matches, including, without limitation, national and/or international matches, and the organization and/or holding of all kinds of concerts and/or mass cultural and artistic events, in exchange for the administration, operation, maintenance, improvement, and commercialization of the Stadium and its trade name, as stipulated in this Contract,” reads the contract signed by the team owners and the local government.
In the transaction between Mazatlán and Atlante, the transfer of the Liga de Expansión franchise to Sinaloa is a non-negotiable point, since the Stadium Management Contract specifies that the departure of the soccer team is grounds for termination.
Clause Seventeen of the “Administration Contract,” section seven, specifies that “When the professional soccer team is relocated to another city or state other than Mazatlán,” the contract may be terminated without liability for the “State Government.”
The Governor of the State of Sinaloa, Rubén Rocha, acknowledged in December 2025 that he was unaware of the contract’s details and assured that it would be reviewed. However, he stated that if he wished to unilaterally terminate the contract, he would have to pay compensation or grant the team’s management time to remain in the city.
“I don’t know how the contract was made, but look, just seeing that people are coming […] Football, which is an attraction, a meeting point for people, that alone is enough for me. I didn’t see any of it. When I arrived here, it was already in place; all the agreements between the government and the company had already been made. That stadium belongs to Sinaloa; it belongs to the government. We are reviewing the details of the agreement, specifically regarding its duration in exceptional circumstances like these, and the extent to which the ownership of the stadium can be extended.”
Source: espn
