Estádio São Januário

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = São Januário Stadium


fullname = Estádio Vasco da Gama
nickname = Estádio da Colina
location = Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
built = 1926-1927
opened = 1927
cost =
owner = Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama
tenants =
Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama
operator = Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama
surface = Grass (110 x 75m)
architect =
former_names =
seating_capacity =
36,273
dimensions =

Estádio Vasco da Gama, known as Estádio São Januário, is the home ground of Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama. It is located in the Vasco da Gama neighborhood, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in a hill near the National Observatory of Brazil. Because of its position is often named as Estádio da Colina (Hill's Stadium) what gave Vasco the nickname of Gigante da Colina (Hill's Giant).

The stadium had a capacity of 36,273 [ [http://www.fussballtempel.net/conmebol/listeconmebol.html www.fussballtempel.net] ] and it was inaugurated on April 27, 1927, with the presence of Washington Luís, Brazilian president in that time. São Januário was the biggest stadium in the New World until 1930 when Estádio Centenário of Montevidéu was inaugurated for the first World Cup in 1930. It was the biggest in Brazil until 1940 when Pacaembu was built in São Paulo (Public Venue, still the biggest private venue in Brazil). It was the biggest in Rio de Janeiro when Maracanã was built for the World Cup and even today, 81 years afterwards, it still stands as the biggest private venue in the State of Rio de Janeiro.

This stadium has also historic importance, because Brazilian president Getúlio Vargas used it many times to do deliver speeches to the Brazilian people. Vargas announced the first Brazilian work laws on the tribune of São Januário.

Vasco da Gama, owner of São Januário, is the only Rio de Janeiro big soccer club to have its private stadium. Other big clubs (as Flamengo, Fluminense and Botafogo) have to rent other places (Flamengo and Fluminense play at Maracanã owned by Rio de Janeiro State and Botafogo plays at Engenhão owned by Rio de Janeiro City).

Other infrastructures

Aquatic park

Opened in August 30, 1953, is use by the swimming school. In 1998 based one stage of FINA Swimming World Cup.

Courts

This stadium has two courts. The first opened in September 23, 1956, and it is the main court. In 1999, this court was remodeled and its capacity increased to 2,500 seats. The second court, denominated "forninho" (little oven in Portuguese), is smaller than main and it's located behind the Aquatic park.

Chapel

Between the soccer arena and Aquatic park it's located the Nossa Senhora das Vitórias's chapel. The project of this chapel was made by Álvaro Nascimento Rodrigues and José Ribeiro de Paiva and it was opened in August 15, 1955.

The importance of this chapel is so big that many projects to remodel the stadium was discarded just because they considered its demolition.

Trophy room

Located just after the stadium front door, the trophy room has about 8,000 trophies, cup, plates, medals and photos earnings on the whole club's history [cite web |url=http://www.crvascodagama.com/?display=CLUBE-8 |title=Vasco da Gama Official Site |accessdate=2008-01-16]

Derbies

Until the constructuion of Maracanã, Vasco used to play the city derbies at São Januário. After Maracanã was opened, in 1950, the derbies moved to there. Since then, though, a few of those derbies have been played at São Januário, mostly when Maracanã was undergoing refurbishing. The last derby played there was in 2005 against Flamengo for the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2005, with Vasco winning, 2-1. Here is Vasco's home record against its major rivals:

External links

*pt icon [http://mavalem.sites.uol.com.br/rj/Rio2.htm Templos do Futebol]
*pt icon [http://www.worldstadiums.com/south_america/countries/brazil/rio_de_janeiro.shtml World Stadiums]
*pt icon [http://www.netvasco.com.br/mauroprais/vasco/curios1.html NetVasco]

References