All eyes will be on Mexico City on June 11 as the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at the newly renovated Estadio Azteca, recently renamed Estadio Banorte. A reopening event and friendly match were held on March 28, with lighting control managed on Obsidian Control Systems’ NX consoles by lighting designer and Lightshow de Mexico director Giovanny Garrido.
Garrido’s relationship with Obsidian Control Systems dates back to the introduction of the M1 console to the market. “At the time, we were the first in Guadalajara to have this console, and after fifteen years of use, it’s still going strong on some of our projects!” he stated.
In recent years, he has acquired an Obsidian NX4 lighting console and Netron data distribution devices for ArtNet from Elation Professional Mexico. “Since discovering the Onyx software that Obsidian uses, I’ve preferred working with these systems for their versatility and practicality,” Garrido comments. “The workflow is truly dynamic, stable, and engaging.”
For the inauguration of Estadio Banorte, the designer used two Obsidian Onyx lighting consoles to control the lighting setup—a compact NX2 and an NX4 with expanded control surface— with one unit on the field and the other at front of house. “Having both consoles was vital for setting up pre-lights on the field and observing what was happening from the television broadcast angles.”
In the control area, another console monitored data transmission, where Systems Engineering Manager Tomás Novoa used several fiber optic-to-network converters from the field to the control area. For this, Obsidian’s Netron EN4 and EN12 EtherDMX gateways were essential for data distribution.
Reflecting on the production setup, Garrido noted: “I think Obsidian’s systems democratize access to high technology, precision, and versatility for users of all levels, thanks to their high performance in highly cost-effective and accessible equipment.” All the Obsidian products were provided for the reopening event by Lightshow de Mexico.
During its 60-year history, Estadio Banorte has hosted two FIFA World Cups (1970 and 1986) and is the stadium where both Pelé and Diego Maradona lifted the World Cup trophy. With a capacity of 87,500 spectators, new VIP areas, luxury locker rooms, and hybrid turf, the newly renovated stadium is again ready to host the most popular sporting event in the world.
