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| Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho | |
|---|---|
| Name | Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho |
| Nickname | Maracanã |
| Full name | Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho |
| Location | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Broke ground | 1948 |
| Opened | 1950 |
| Renovated | 2000, 2013–2014 |
| Owner | Prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro |
| Operator | Complexo Maracanã Entretenimento S.A. |
| Surface | Grass |
| Capacity | 78,838 |
| Record attendance | 199,854 |
| Architect | Miguel Veríssimo de Melo, Waldir Ramos, Rafael Galvão |
Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho is a major association football stadium located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, commonly known by its widely recognized nickname. The venue has hosted landmark matches involving Brazil national football team, Flamengo, Fluminense FC, Vasco da Gama, and Botafogo, and has been a focal point for international competitions such as the FIFA World Cup, the Copa América, and the Olympic Games. Its cultural significance extends into Brazilian music, cinema, and public spectacle, connecting figures like Pelé, Garrincha, Zico, and Miranda with global events such as the 1970 FIFA World Cup and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Construction began in the late 1940s under municipal direction after site selection discussions that involved urban planners from Prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro and proposals influenced by precedent venues like Estádio do Pacaembu and Estádio das Laranjeiras. The stadium opened in 1950 to stage the 1950 FIFA World Cup final venue, a tournament that featured teams including Uruguay national football team, Brazil national football team, and Sweden national football team. Subsequent decades saw renovations linked to editions of the Copa Libertadores, the FIFA Confederations Cup, and municipal initiatives tied to administrations of mayors such as Carlos Lacerda and Eduardo Paes. Modernization programs in 2000 and 2013–2014 prepared the venue for matches in tournaments organized by FIFA and the International Olympic Committee, which coordinated events with the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee.
The official name commemorates journalist Mário Filho, whose sports writing influenced public perceptions of football and stadium culture in Brazil. The stadium’s popular nickname derives from longstanding local and international usage established by sportswriters and broadcasters including those from Globo, Rede Bandeirantes, and Esporte Interativo. Identity debates involving clubs like Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, Fluminense Football Club, Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama, and Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas have featured in municipal records and legal proceedings overseen by entities such as the Tribunal de Justiça do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Corporate naming rights discussions have involved firms like Odebrecht and entertainment operators linked to AEG, though municipal trusteeship has often been emphasized in public discourse.
Original designs were drafted by architects including Miguel Veríssimo de Melo and Rafael Galvão, reflecting mid-20th century modernist influences seen also in works by Oscar Niemeyer and Lina Bo Bardi in Brazilian public architecture. Structural elements include a bowl configuration, radial circulation ramps, and a reinforced concrete superstructure comparable to precedents at Estádio do Maracanãzinho and Mineirão. Renovation architects and engineering firms collaborating with the municipal administration integrated contemporary systems from suppliers such as Philips and Siemens for lighting and scoreboard technology, while hospitality zones were developed to host delegations from organizations like CONMEBOL and FIFA. Facilities encompass press tribunes used by outlets including Folha de S.Paulo, O Globo, and Placar; VIP suites for sponsors such as Gillette; and training adjacencies historically used by clubs participating in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
The stadium has staged domestic cup finals in competitions run by the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol and continental fixtures overseen by CONMEBOL, as well as concerts by international artists managed through promoters like Live Nation and local productions associated with festivals such as Rock in Rio. It hosted opening and final matches for tournaments including the 1950 FIFA World Cup, the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, and the football competitions during the 2016 Summer Olympics. High-profile concerts featured performers like Queen, Paul McCartney, Madonna, and Beyoncé, often coordinated with municipal permits administered by the Secretaria Municipal de Turismo.
Historic attendance peaked during the 1950 match between Brazil national football team and Uruguay national football team for which crowd estimates have been discussed in archives of outlets such as BBC Sport, The New York Times, and Folha de S.Paulo, with figures frequently cited near 199,854 spectators. Domestic club derbies involving Flamengo and Fluminense FC have repeatedly reached near-capacity levels documented by the Federação de Futebol do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Post-renovation capacity adjustments followed security protocols advised by international bodies including FIFA and local regulations enforced by the Corpo de Bombeiros Militar do Estado do Rio de Janeiro.
Access planning integrates multimodal links including the SuperVia suburban rail network, the Metrô Rio, municipal bus lines coordinated by the Companhia Municipal de Transportes, and arterial roads such as the Avenida Radial Oeste and Avenida Presidente Vargas. Event-day crowd management protocols are coordinated with agencies like the Departamento de Trânsito do Rio de Janeiro and police contingents from the Polícia Militar do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Pedestrian plazas, taxi stands, and ride-hailing pickup zones interface with digital services provided by companies like Uber and 99, while future proposals have been discussed with urban planners from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and transport consultants affiliated with the World Bank.
Category:Sports venues in Rio de Janeiro (city) Category:Association football venues in Brazil