TIJUANA, BC.- Baseball in Tijuana is a big tradition in the border city, and the opening season for the new formed club Toros was a-must-attend party. More than 16,000 people filled up the seats at the Estadio Gasmart, also known as Estadio del Cerro Colorado, for the inauguration ceremony.

Doors opened at 4PM for the baseball lovers to get inside the stadium and get one of the good seats. Food stands were ready with their tacos during the early hours, while whole families entered the newly renewed building saw its first clients coming in.

The stadium is the best of Mexico's Northern League, with a new synthetic field that was put on for the first time weeks ago. The seats were painted with red, the official color of the Toros, while every single part of the stadium saw a little upgrade or two.

At the end baseball is still Tijuana's pastime and the Toros are hoping to carry on the legend of the 2004 team that went to the Zone Final against Saltillo Saraperos.

manuel.medina@sandiegored.com