Cancún’s Bienestar Auditorium Revival Starts This Year

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Senator Eugenio Segura announced that the government of Quintana Roo will focus this year on rehabilitating the structural integrity of the Bienestar Auditorium, following last year’s restoration work on its hydraulic and electrical systems, which required an investment of 50 million pesos.

A Long-Awaited Restoration

"The state government has already begun restoring this space, addressing the hydraulic and electrical systems, which were completely deteriorated after years of neglect," Segura stated. "This year, we are starting the structural work, which isn’t immediately visible to the public. I want to emphasize that the project has been in development since last year. The building has been abandoned for years, but it’s important to remember that it was constructed with public funds, and now we are reclaiming it."

The auditorium has been abandoned for nine years. Originally built to host major events in Cancún, the facility is expected to regain its former purpose. Segura highlighted that its restoration will be a legacy of Governor Mara Lezama’s administration, following the successful recovery of the Poliforum building, where nearly 90 million pesos were invested. The Poliforum now serves as the home of the "Calor de Cancún" sports team and hosts various events to promote athletics.

A Troubled History

Located on Luis Donaldo Colosio Boulevard, the auditorium was delivered by former Governor Roberto Borge Angulo just days before the end of his administration in September 2016. However, under the subsequent administration of Governor Carlos Joaquín González, the building was deemed unusable. Efforts were made to repurpose it, including a proposal to convert it into the headquarters for the Security Complex (C5). A study conducted by the then-Secretariat of Public Works determined that the structure posed risks and required an additional 60 million pesos to complete and make operational.

A Costly and Controversial Project

Designed for spectacles, sports, and cultural activities, the auditorium cost 244 million 759 thousand pesos—significantly more than the 166 million pesos spent on the Bienestar Auditorium in Nayarit, from which the design was replicated. With a capacity for 12,000 people, it is larger than Mexico City’s National Auditorium (10,000 capacity) and Guadalajara’s Telmex Auditorium (11,500 capacity), and more spacious than Monterrey’s Banamex Auditorium (8,500 capacity).

In August 2017, the Quintana Roo Public Management report revealed that the Borge administration constructed the auditorium in a record eight months—but without construction permits, operational licenses, or environmental impact authorization. The report also concluded that the building was unsafe.

The restoration project marks a significant step toward revitalizing a long-neglected public asset, with the aim of returning it to its original purpose as a hub for major events in Cancún.