It will always be the Coliseo Yucatan to many, but the 10,000-seat concert venue on the Merida-Progreso highway has sold its naming rights to an insurance company.
Much like the new International Convention Center is “Powered by Samsung,” the coliseum will soon be officially called Foro GNP.
GNP Seguros, or Grupo Nacional Provincial, is owned by one of the largest business conglomerates in the country.
The details and conditions of the name change are unknown. Media are only reporting on it because reporters noticed changes to the Coliseo’s facade. Not only was its lighted sign swapped, but its exterior walls are now the company’s signature orange.
The coliseum first opened in February 2014, by the then Gov. Rolando Zapata Bello, costing over 280 million pesos.
It was a step forward for Yucatan. The venue is fully air conditioned, has 34 golden boxes and 30 platinum boxes, as well as four dressing rooms, production offices and press room. Its central arena is more than 37 meters in diameter.
Related: See who’s visited the Coliseo over the years.
The room is designed to host large-scale national and international events and has featured stars such as Luis Miguel, Ricky Martin, Chayanne and Ringo Starr, and shows such as Cirque Du Soleil.
For its second anniversary, in 2016, a concert celebration ended up being Juan Gabriel’s final appearance here. The artist filled the room and thrilled the audience for three hours with his greatest hits.
