In 2007, the Atlante soccer club moved from Mexico City to Cancun. Though many soccer fans thought the team to be an under-funded, under-appreciated group of second-rate players, Atlante endeared itself to locals by winning the Mexican First Division League championship in its first Cancun season. Though the excitement of professional soccer was slow to catch on during the first season in Cancun, the 22,000-seat stadium now regularly hosts sellout crowds and Atlante merchandise can be found throughout the city. As Atlante fans are already known throughout Mexico to be both passionate and welcoming, Cancun's championship soccer club offers a unique travel experience for tourists of all ages.
At the time of Atlante's move from Mexico City, Cancun was hardly known as a soccer Mecca. In fact, despite the overwhelming popularity of the sport in Mexico, Cancun residents were more fascinated with their local baseball team - Tigres de Quintana Roo - than the happenings in soccer throughout the country. Even when the Cancun's first professional soccer club arrived, the reception was initially lukewarm. Though Atlante steadily built a fan base in Cancun and surprised many long-time soccer fans, the team had to overcome an underwhelming history. In Mexico City, Atlante was fourth in line for fans behind far more popular teams such as Club America, Cruz Azul and Pumas. Furthermore, Atlante had not won a league championship in 15 years, having found a perennial home at the bottom of the rankings.
Despite the odds being stacked against Atlante succeeding in Cancun, the team got off to a great start in their new home. Prior to the season, the team worked with the city of Cancun to secure the use of a refurbished 22,000-seat stadium - Estadio Andrés Quintana Roo. After Atlante won a few home games, word spread throughout Cancun that the games provided affordable entertainment, great atmosphere and bountiful refreshments. As the 2007-2008 season progressed, Atlante would lose only three games and come to be known throughout Mexico as one of the country's best defensive teams.
Today, with a championship trophy to their name, Atlante are more popular than ever in Mexico. Jerseys, flags and other Atlante merchandise can be spotted at many of the shops and open-air markets in Cancun, allowing tourists to easily secure this year's most popular souvenirs. Regardless of where you visit in Cancun, pride and excitement in the premier league champions will be on clear display. Atlante has become an indelible part of Cancun culture, meaning visitors will want to experience the excitement of first-rate professional soccer for themselves.
While some soccer teams are known more for their rowdy fans than play on the field, Atlante home games are known for their family-friendly atmosphere. In fact, many visiting soccer fans have noted that the hospitality they experience at Estadio Andrés Quintana Roo seems to match the reputation of Cancun's finest resorts. Despite the friendly nature on display at Atlante home games, the stadium never seems to lack the trademark excitement of Mexican soccer. Atlante fans are known to chant, sing and play drums throughout the games, while visiting families are encouraged to celebrate the action, regardless of their allegiances.
Unlike other resort cities in Mexico such as Acapulco and Mazatlan, Cancun now boasts a taste of big city sporting entertainment. For visitors, Atlante - and the excitement they have generated throughout the city - is yet another example of why Cancun is the most exciting city in Mexico. Whether you visit the stadium for a home game, buy a jersey to remember your Cancun vacation or simply revel in the city's excitement, the champion Atlante soccer club will undoubtedly make an impact on your Cancun experience.
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