Brazilian stadiums: between history, anecdotes and neo-modernism

Overview of stadiums in the land of football
by
Desmond Efe-Khaese
2023-09-11 14:11:10

In the land of football, there is no shortage of talent, and neither are the stadiums. The latest to have seen the light of day among the first division teams is the new den of Atlético Mineiro, the Arena MRV, inaugurated during the year in March.

As a reminder, Atletico Mineiro had played most of their recent history at the city’s flagship stadium, the Estadio Mineirao, until it was refurbished for the 2014 World Cup. However, in the end stadium works in 2014, the club could not reach an agreement on rental terms, prompting them to move to the smaller Estadio Independencia and only use the Mineirao for football matches. high level.

A year later, the club announced that it was going to build its own stadium, choosing a site west of Belo Horizonte, less than 10 kilometers from the center, which it had acquired through an agreement with the company real estate MRV. It has now happened.

With a capacity of 46,000 seats, and construction which began in April 2020, the Arena MRV adds to the long list of major stadiums in the country, of which here is the list from the most recent to the oldest, built at the residents of first version of the Brasileirao Assai, depending on their inauguration dates.

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2023 – The MRV Arena (Atlético Mineiro): Capacity 46,000 people – Belo Horizonte

2014 – Allianz Parque (Palmeiras): Capacity 43,713 people – São Paulo

Also known as Arena Palestra Itália, Allianz Parque is a multi-purpose stadium located in São Paulo, built to host shows, concerts, corporate events, and especially matches of Palmeiras, owner of the venue.

At the time of its inauguration, the stadium had one of the most modern multi-purpose spaces in the entire country. The stadium meets all FIFA standards, accrediting it to host the most important sporting tournaments.

Its construction began in 2010 under the direction of Portuguese architect Tomás Taveira. The stadium was built by the company WTorre Properties/Arenas, part of the WTorre group.

2014 – Neo Química Arena (Corinthians): Capacity 49,205 – São Paulo

Formerly called Arena Corinthians, and more commonly known as Itaquerão, the Neo Quimica Arena is located in São Paulo, more precisely in the Itaquera district, in the east of the city. It is owned by SC Corinthians.

It was notably chosen as the venue for the 2014 World Cup and hosted the opening match. For the World Cup, temporary stands were installed, bringing the total capacity to 61,600 seats. It is a five-star stadium, in accordance with UEFA stadium qualification criteria.

2014 – Arena Pantanal (Cuiabá): Capacity 44,003 – Cuiabá

Arena Pantanal is a multipurpose stadium. Inaugurated on April 26, 2014, it is mainly used for football, notably by Cuiabá Esporte Clube, and hosted four group stage matches during the FIFA World Cup in 2014. During the World Cup, the arena had a capacity of 41,390 and currently can accommodate 44,003 spectators.

Heavily criticized before the World Cup held in Brazil, he suffered a fire in October 2013, due to polystyrene insulation panels that caught fire. Although no one was injured, the blaze came less than 24 hours after Mato Grosso state governor warned it may not be finished in time for the World Cup. Which ultimately was not the case.

2013 – Fonte Nova (Bahia): Capacity 47,907 – Bahia

Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova, also known as Complexo Esportivo Cultural Professor Octávio Mangabeira, is a football-specific stadium located in Salvador, Bahia city. It was built in place of the old Estádio Fonte Nova.

The stadium was first used in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, including the Netherlands’ 5-1 victory over the reigning world champions, Spain. It was also used as one of the venues for the 2016 Summer Olympics football competition.

2012 – Arena do Grêmio (Grêmio): Capacity 60,540 – Porto Alegre

Arena do Grêmio is a multi-purpose stadium located in Porto Alegre, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. It was inaugurated on December 8, 2012.

It is mainly used for football matches and serves as the home stadium for Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, replacing the Estádio Olímpico Monumental. With a capacity of 60,540 seats (current official seats 55,662), the stadium is one of the most modern venues in South America.

The Arena received a “Category Four” rating in the UEFA stadium categories from UEFA, the only one in Brazil. But although it is one of the most modern stadiums in Brazil, it was not selected as the venue for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, however, in 2019 the Arena do Grêmio was selected as one venues for the 2019 Copa América, where five matches were played in the stadium.

2007 – Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos (Botafogo): Capacity 60,000 – Rio de Janeirol

A multi-purpose stadium located in the Engenho de Dentro district of Rio de Janeiro, It is mainly used for football matches and athletics and is the home stadium of the Botafogo football club. The stadium was built by a consortium under the leadership of Odebrecht SA, from 2003 to 2007, and opened in time for the 2007 Pan American Games. It hosted the athletics competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics and at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. It was also one of five venues for the 2021 Copa América.

Its name pays homage to Nílton Santos, who spent his entire career at Botafogo and is considered one of the greatest defenders in football history, being part of the world team of the 20th century.

1999 – Ligga Arena (Athletico Paranaense): Capacity 42,372 – Curitiba

Estádio Joaquim Américo Guimarães, commonly known as Ligga Arena, is a stadium located in Curitiba, capital of the state of Paraná, Brazil. The stadium was the first in Brazil to sell its naming rights; it was known as Kyocera Arena between 2005 and April 1, 2008. It was also the first stadium with a retractable roof built in South America.

With Curitiba chosen as one of the host cities for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the stadium was rebuilt between 2012 and 2014. Its capacity was increased to 42,372 seats.

1995 – Estádio da Serrinha (Goiàs): Capacity 14,450 – Goiânia

The Hailé Pinheiro stadium, better known as the da Serrinha stadium, is a multipurpose stadium. It is mainly used for football matches and hosts the home matches of Goiás Esporte Clube.

In February 2019, Goiás began expanding the stadium by building a new stand behind one of the goals, increasing the capacity to 12,500. In February 2020, another phase of the expansion was launched with the construction of a new side stand scheduled to be completed in May 2020. With this expansion, the capacity increased to 14,450 people.

1973 – Castelâo (Fortaleza): Capacity 63,903 – Fortaleza

Estádio Governador Plácido Castelo, also known as Castelão or Gigante da Boa Vista, is a football stadium inaugurated on November 11, 1973 in Fortaleza, Ceará.

The stadium is owned by the Ceará State Government and serves as the home ground for Ceará Sporting Club and Fortaleza Esporte Clube.

Its official name honors Plácido Aderaldo Castelo (1906–1979), who served as governor of the state of Ceará from September 12, 1966 to March 15, 1971 and was a leader in the construction of the stadium.

1969 – Estádio Beira-Rio (Internacional): Capacity 50,128 – Porto Alegre

José Pinheiro Borda Stadium, commonly known as Estádio Beira-Rio, or Gigante da Beira-Rio or simply Beira-Rio, due to its location on the Guaíba River, is a football stadium in Porto Alegre , in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

It serves as the home stadium of Sport Club Internacional, replacing their former stadium, the Estádio dos Eucaliptos. It is named after José Pinheiro Borda (1897–1965), an elderly Portuguese engineer who oversaw the construction of the stadium but died before seeing it completed.

It was also one of 12 venues used for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, hosting five of the tournament’s matches.

1965 – Mineirâo (Cruzeiro): Capacity 61,927 – Belo Horizonte

Officially called Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto, Mineirâo is the largest football stadium in the state of Minas Gerais.

It served as a competition venue during the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2013 and the FIFA World Cup in 2014. It also hosted some matches of the 2016 Summer Olympics football tournament. stadium is owned by the State of Minas Gerais.

1960 – Morumbi (São Paulo FC): Capacity 66,795 – São Paulo

Cícero Pompeu de Toledo Stadium, widely known as Morumbi], is a football stadium located in the eponymous district of São Paulo.

It is the home of São Paulo Futebol Clube and its official name honors Cícero Pompeu de Toledo, who was the president of São Paulo Futebol Clube for most of the stadium’s construction and died before its inauguration.

Morumbi is the largest private stadium in Brazil. The stadium was designed by architect João Batista Vilanova Artigas.

1950 – Independência (America MG): Capacity 23,018 – Belo Horizonte

The Estádio Raimundo Sampaio, more commonly known as Independência, is a football stadium located in the Horto neighborhood of Belo Horizonte, in the state of Minas Gerais. It was built in 1950 for the FIFA World Cup held in Brazil.

Originally its capacity was 30,000 people, but after the renovation carried out between 2010 and 2012, its capacity is around 23,000 people.

It belonged to the defunct Sete de Setembro Futebol Clube, which is why the stadium is called Independência (the name of the team, September 7, corresponds to Brazil’s Independence Day).

The stadium is currently owned by América Futebol Clube, but it was leased to the government of the state of Minas Gerais for a period of 20 years, in exchange for the injection of public resources for the demolition of the old stadium and the construction of the new one.

Estádio Independência is the second most important stadium in Belo Horizonte, after Mineirão.

1950 – Maracanã (Flamengo, Fluminense): Capacity 78,838 (Rio de Janeiro)

Without doubt one of the most famous Brazilian stadiums, one of the most famous in the world, if not the best known in the history of football.

The Maracanã Stadium, officially named Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, is a football stadium located in Rio de Janeiro. The stadium is part of a complex that includes an arena known as Maracanãzinho. It belongs to the state government of Rio de Janeiro, but is now managed by the Flamengo and Fluminense clubs.

The stadium was opened in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup, in which Brazil were beaten 2-1 by Uruguay in the deciding match in front of a record crowd of 173,850 on July 16, 1950. Legend has it that the disillusionment of the supporters was such that it caused at least three deaths from heart attacks among the spectators present and that the country even experienced a wave of suicides following this meeting. But we are dealing more with a legend than a historical truth.

The stadium has seen crowds of 150,000 or more on 26 occasions, the last being on May 29, 1983, when 155,253 spectators attended Flamengo’s 3–0 victory over Santos. The stadium has hosted crowds of more than 100,000 people 284 times, including a match between Brazil and Uruguay with 179,000 spectators. However, over time some standing sections were replaced by seats, and after renovation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup its original capacity was reduced to 78,838 spectators, but it remains the largest stadium of Brazil and the third largest in South America after the two Monumentals of Argentina and Peru.

1949 – Estádio Nabi Abi Chedid (Red Bull Bragantino): Capacity 15,010 (Bragança Paulista)

Estádio Nabi Abi Chedid, also known as Nabizão, is a football stadium in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. It is owned by Red Bull Bragantino, and its official name pays homage to Nabi Abi Chedid, who was the father of Bragantino president Marco Antônio Abi Chedid, as well as a former club president.

Previously, the stadium was named Estádio Marcelo Stéfani, in honor of Marcelo Stéfani, who was a player and president of Bragantino.

1932 – Couto Pereira (Coritiba): Capacity 40,502 (Curitiba)

 

Major Antônio Couto Pereira Stadium, simply known as Couto Pereira, is a Brazilian football stadium owned by Coritiba Foot Ball Club. It is located in the Alto da Glória neighborhood in Curitiba, the capital of the state of Paraná. Fans affectionately call him “Couto” or “Alto da Glória”.

It was inaugurated on November 15, 1932 during a football match between Coritiba and America-RJ, which the local team won 4 to 2.

1926 – Estádio São Januário (Vasco Da Gama): Capacity 21,880 (Rio de Janeiro)

Vasco da Gama Stadium, also known as São Januário Stadium due to its location on a street of the same name, is the home ground of Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama. Its facade is classified as a national historical and artistic heritage.

Due to its position, it is often referred to as the Hill Stadium (Estádio da Colina), earning Vasco the nickname “Giant of the Hill” (Gigante da Colina). It is one of the few football-specific stadiums in the world that has both the team benches and the training areas behind the goal line on the same side of the pitch.

This stadium is also of historical significance, as Brazilian President Getúlio Vargas had used it many times to deliver speeches to the Brazilian people. Vargas had announced the first Brazilian labor laws from the platform of São Januário.

Also, Vasco da Gama, owner of São Januário, is the only major football club in Rio de Janeiro to have its own private stadium. The other big clubs (Flamengo, Fluminense and Botafogo) rent their stadiums (Flamengo and Fluminense play at Maracanã, owned by the state of Rio de Janeiro, while Botafogo plays at Estádio Nilton Santos, owned by the city of Rio de Janeiro. Janeiro).

1916 – Vila Belmiro (Santos FC) – Capacity 16,068 (Santos)

Urbano Caldeira Stadium, also known as Vila Belmiro, is a football stadium located in the Vila Belmiro neighborhood of Santos, São Paulo, and is the home of Santos Futebol Clube.

It was named in honor of Urbano Caldeira, former player, coach and president of Santos, in 1933. The stadium, nicknamed Vila Belmiro due to its location in the Vila Belmiro district, has been the permanent home of Santos since 1916. However, the team sometimes uses the Pacaembu stadium located in the city of São Paulo for important matches due to the low capacity of the Vila Belmiro.

The stadium underwent several expansions and renovations in the 1990s and 2000s, including renewal of irrigation and drainage systems, installation of lighting and replacement of the pitch.

It was also the stage for KING Pelé’s funeral, which took place on January 2 and 3, 2023.

Brazil is therefore not the country of football for nothing.