The neighborhood was initially planned to have several sports facilities including tennis courts, swimming pools, football fields and gymnasiums (hence the name) as well as a residential and commercial zone.

Ciudad de los Deportes' development started in the 1940s, projected as an area with several sports facilities and a residential and commercial zone in the lands of the former San Carlos ranch and La Guadalupana brickworks.

Nevertheless, due to economic problems, only the two major buildings were completed: the Plaza México and Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, both inaugurated in 1946.

Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes was the home stadium of Cruz Azul, one of the most popular football clubs in Mexico, until its departure in 2018.

[7] Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes is also the venue for the Tazón México, the final game of the LFA, the top American football league in Mexico.