Arena da Baixada

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = Arena da Baixada


fullname = Estádio Joaquim Américo Guimarães
nickname =
location = Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
opened = 1914
renovated = 1999
owner = Atlético Paranaense
tenants = Internacional-PR (1914-1924)
Atlético Paranaense (1924-present)
operator = Atlético Paranaense
surface = Grass (105 x 68m)
former_names = Estádio Joaquim Américo
seating_capacity = 25,272
dimensions =

The Arena da Baixada, also known as Estádio Joaquim Américo Guimarães, and formerly known as Caldeirão do diabo, is a football stadium inaugurated on June 6, 1914 in Água Verde neighborhood, Curitiba, Paraná, with a maximum capacity of 25,272 people.pt icon [http://www.atleticopr.com.br/arena/ Kyocera Arena at Atlético paranaense's official website] ] The stadium is owned by Clube Atlético Paranaense. Its formal name honors Joaquim Américo Guimarães, a former chairman of Internacional-PR, which was a club that fused with América-PR, originating Atlético Paranaense. Joaquim Américo Guimarães started the stadium's construction in 1912. Despite being called arena, it is an outdoor stadium.

History

The stadium was built at the previous location of a Brazilian Army powder depot. In 1934, the stadium was renamed Estádio Joaquim Américo Guimarães. In the 1970s, the stadium was deactivated, being reopened only in 1984. On March 26, 1997, the stadium was demolished, right after a construction project of a new arena was announced. In June 1999, the new stadium was built. In 2005, the stadium was renamed to Kyocera Arena, after the Japanese company Kyocera purchased the naming rights.

The inaugural match was played on September 6, 1914, when Flamengo beat Internacional 7-1. The first goal of the stadium was scored by Flamengo's Arnaldo.

The reinaugural match was played on June 24, 1999, when Atlético Paranaense beat Cerro Porteño of Paraguay 2-1. The first goal of the stadium after its reinauguration was scored by Atlético's Lucas.

The stadium's attendance record currently stands at 31,740, [ [http://paginas.terra.com.br/esporte/rsssfbrasil/tables/br2001.htm RSSSF] ] set on December 16, 2001 when Atlético Paranaense beat São Caetano 4-2, on the first game of that year's Brazilian Championship finals.

Though the present stadium is still new, there are some plan of new stadium for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. [cite news | url =http://portal.rpc.com.br/gazetadopovo/impressa/esportes/conteudo.phtml?id=686444&tit=Bem-vindo-a-nova-Arena | title = Bem-vindo à nova Arena (Welcome to the new Arena) | publisher =Gazeta do Povo | pages = | page = | date =2007-08-10 | accessdate =2007-08-10 | language =Portuguese]

The contract with Kyocera that gave the Stadium the naming rights expired in earlier 2008 and it was not renewed and no new partnership was announced. The stadium went back to be called Arena da Baixada.cite web | title = Sem pressa, Atlético-PR negocia patrocínio | url=http://maquinadoesporte.uol.com.br/v2/noticias.asp?id=9458 | accessdate = 2008-07-02 | date = 2008-06-05 |language=Portuguese | publisher=Máquina do Esporte ]

References

Books

*"Enciclopédia do Futebol Brasileiro", Volume 2 - Lance, Rio de Janeiro: Aretê Editorial S/A, 2001.

Websites

External links

* [http://www.atleticopr.com.br/arena/ Kyocera Arena] - by Atlético Paranaense official website
* [http://www.furacao.com/clube/baixada/ Kyocera Arena] - by Furacão website