Arena do Grêmio is a multi-use stadium in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. It was inaugurated on December 8, 2012.[1]

Arena do Grêmio
Map
AddressPadre Leopoldo Brentano Avenue, 110
LocationPorto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul
Coordinates29°58′24.40″S 51°11′39.85″W / 29.9734444°S 51.1944028°W / -29.9734444; -51.1944028
OwnerGrêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense
OperatorArena Porto-Alegrense
Executive suites135
Capacity55,225[3] (seated) 60,540 (total)[4]
Field size105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft)
SurfaceLolium perenne
Desso GrassMaster
ScoreboardLED
Construction
Broke groundSeptember 20, 2010
Opened8 December 2012; 11 years ago (2012-12-08)[1]
Construction cost€ 205 million
ArchitectPLARQ Arquitetura[2]
General contractorOAS
Tenants
Grêmio (2013–present)
Website
Official website

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

In Sisbrace, the Brazilian Ministry of Sport's football stadium evaluation system, Arena do Grêmio received the highest rating in all aspects.[5] Arena also received from UEFA a "Category Four" evaluation from UEFA's stadium categories, the only in Brazil.[6] Even though it is one of the most modern stadiums in Brazil, it was not listed as a host of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, held in the country, but in 2019 Arena do Grêmio was selected as one of the venues for the 2019 Copa América where five matches were played in the stadium.

Concept

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A mile from the international airport of Porto Alegre and alongside the road way, the stadium site appeared perfect to create a multifunctional urban center. The complex includes a Conference and Congress Center, hotel, a mall, housing, condominiums and parking. The arena itself intends to be functional year round.

The architectural firm PLARQ is responsible for the stadium projects design and concept and OAS is the general contractor.

History

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In the mid-2000s, an idea came within the Grêmio, to build a new stadium to host matches of the Tricolor. The idea was carried out in 2006 with the beginning of the work viability studies. The objective was to make a self-sustaining stadium, unlike the Estádio Olímpico Monumental, that was already falling apart. In May 2006, the Grêmio's master patrimonial plan was formulated, which, precisely, headed the project. From there began a discussion about the construction place, in the current location of Olímpico or in a new place. In November 2006, aiming to dispel this doubt, was made a pre-feasibility study for the construction of a new stadium, with the Dutch company Amsterdam Advisory Arena. The conclusion was that the Estádio Olímpico would not meet the expectations of the club, due to high maintenance cost, age of construction, low standard of comfort, security and services, insufficient parking and location in very populated region. This combination of factors led the club to opt for building an Arena, with the financial assistance of partners, with the standard required by FIFA.

 
Interior view.

Beginning of construction

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In October 2009, fences were installed to surround the region.[7] On May 13, 2010, a flagpole with Grêmio's flag was inaugurated on the ground.

The official launch of the works took place on September 20, 2010, after a motorcade output from the Estádio Olímpico. On the same day, at the ceremony of start of construction, Hugo de León planted a patch of grass of Olímpico on the Arena ground after landing in a helicopter. Later, the former footballer represented symbolically the works to push the button on a machine and turn it on.

In late February 2011, about three hundred workers stopped their activities, protesting for better wages, working conditions and housing, days off to visit their families - as many workers were from the northeast of Brazil - and a longer rest.[8] Requests were met quickly, and all worked back to full steam.

Important matches

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Inauguration

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8 December 2012 Grêmio   2–1   Hamburger SV Porto Alegre, Brazil
22:00 UTC−2 André Lima   9'
Moreno   87'
Report Westermann   71' Stadium: Arena do Grêmio
Attendance: 60,540
Referee: Carlos Amarilla (Paraguay)

2012 Match Against Poverty

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19 December 2012 Ronaldo's XI 3–2 Zidane's XI Porto Alegre, Brazil
21:00 UTC−2 Bebeto   36'
Cacá   79'
Leandro Damião   87'
Report Falcão   60'
Zidane   65'
Stadium: Arena do Grêmio
Attendance: 60,540
Referee: Pierluigi Collina (Italy)

First official match: Copa Libertadores 2013, First Stage (second leg)

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30 January 2013 Grêmio   1–0
(1–1 agg.)
(5–4 p)
  LDU Quito Porto Alegre, Brazil
22:00 UTC−2 Elano   62' Report Stadium: Arena do Grêmio
Attendance: 41,461
Referee: Saúl Laverni (Argentina)
Penalties
André Lima  
Saimon  
Willian José  
Pará  
Vargas  
Alex Telles  
  Saritama
  Vitti
  Reasco
  Vélez
  Canuto
  Morante

International friendly: Brazil vs France

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9 June 2013 Brazil   3–0   France Porto Alegre, Brazil
16:00 UTC−3 Oscar   53'
Hernanes   84'
Lucas Moura   90+2' (pen.)
Report Stadium: Arena do Grêmio
Attendance: 51,643
Referee: Víctor Hugo Carrillo (Peru)

City derby

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9 August 2015 Grêmio   5–0   Internacional Porto Alegre, Brazil
18:30 UTC−3 Giuliano   34'
Luan   42', 48'
Fernandinho   75'
Réver   83' (o.g.)
Report Stadium: Arena do Grêmio
Attendance: 46.010
Referee: Dewson Freitas

Brazilian Cup Final

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7 December 2016 Grêmio   1–1   Atlético-MG Porto Alegre, Brazil
21:45 UTC−3 Stadium: Arena do Grêmio
Attendance: 55.000
Referee: Luiz Flávio de Oliveira (FIFA)
31 August 2017 Brazil   2–0   Ecuador Porto Alegre, Brazil
21:45 UTC−3 Paulinho   69'
Coutinho   76'
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONMEBOL)
Stadium: Arena do Grêmio
Attendance: 38,000
Referee: Mario Díaz de Vivar (Paraguay)
22 November 2017 Grêmio   1–0   Lanús Porto Alegre, Brazil
21:45 UTC−2 Cícero   82' Report Stadium: Arena do Grêmio
Attendance: 55,188
Referee: Julio Bascuñán (Chile)

2019 Copa América

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Date Time (UTC-03) Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
June 15, 2019 16:00   Venezuela 0–0   Peru Group A 13,370
June 20, 2019 20:00   Uruguay 2–2   Japan Group C 39,733
June 23, 2019 16:00   Qatar 0–2   Argentina Group B 41,390
June 27, 2019 21:30   Brazil 0–0 (4–3 pen.)   Paraguay Quarter-finals 44,902
July 3, 2019 21:30   Chile 0–3   Peru Semi-finals 33,058

Concerts

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With the multi-use stadium concept, the Arena do Grêmio easily adapts to receive more different genres of shows and events. The first was to be held in April 2013, receiving a concert celebrating the 72 years old of singer Roberto Carlos, with a sold-out audience of 50,000. In June 2014, the Arena hosted the first show of the 2014 Green Valley World Tour, which was attended by the residents of the largest electronic music festival in the world and known as the "Maestros of Tomorrowland": Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, to an audience of over 14,000 fans.

Events at Arena do Grêmio
Date Event Artist(s) Attendance
20 April 2013 2013 Roberto Carlos Tour Roberto Carlos 50,000
18 June 2014 2014 Green Valley World Tour Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, WolfPack, Thomaz Krause, Marcelo CIC, Rapha Costa 14,000
14 December 2014 Happy Holi Alok, FTampa, Diego Miranda, LyoPak 12,000
2 May 2015 Save Festival - Super Club Nicky Romero 7,000
11 November 2015 2015 Latin America Tour Pearl Jam 29,667
16 December 2015 Rattle That Lock Tour David Gilmour 37,674
11 November 2017 A Head Full of Dreams Tour Coldplay 50,229
14 March 2018 Witness: The Tour Katy Perry 19,000
23 October 2018 El Dorado World Tour Shakira 28,300
17 February 2019 ÷ Tour Ed Sheeran 38,635
9 October 2019 Legacy of the Beast World Tour Iron Maiden 60,000
April 26, 2022 End of the Road World Tour Kiss TBA
September 24, 2022 Guns N' Roses 2020 Tour Guns N' Roses TBA
November 1, 2023 This Is Not a Drill Roger Waters TBA
November 16, 2023 Global Stadium Tour Red Hot Chili Peppers TBA

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Araujo, Luis Fernando o (2014). Assim é Porto Alegre (in Portuguese). Porto Alegre: Artes e Ofícios. ISBN 9788574212272.
  2. ^ "Plarq— estudos de arquitetura e urbanismo". Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  3. ^ "CNEF - Cadastro Nacional de Estádios de Futebol" (PDF) (in Portuguese). January 18, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  4. ^ "Arena do Grêmio –". Stadiumdb.com. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  5. ^ Paulo, Por SporTV comSão (January 28, 2016). "Entre 155 estádios, apenas 13 deles ganham avaliação máxima em sistema". sportv.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  6. ^ "Arena do Grêmio é o único estádio com selo UEFA no Brasil" (in Brazilian Portuguese). August 7, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  7. ^ "GloboEsporte.com > Futebol > Grêmio - NOTÍCIAS - Terreno da Arena do Grêmio é demarcado". Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  8. ^ "Últimas Notícias de Porto Alegre e Rio Grande do Sul". May 29, 2022.
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