Estádio Palestra Itália

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = Estádio Palestra Itália
nickname = Estádio Parque Antarctica


fullname = Estádio Palestra Itália
location = São Paulo, SP
coordinates =
broke_ground =
built =
opened = January 25, 1915
renovated =
expanded =
closed =
demolished =
owner = Palmeiras
operator =
surface = grass
construction_cost =
architect =
structural engineer =
services engineer =
general_contractor =
project_manager =
main_contractors =
former_names = Parque da Antarctica Paulista
tenants = Palmeiras
seating_capacity = 29,173
dimensions = 110 x 75 m
scoreboard =

Estádio Palestra Itália, located in São Paulo, Brazil, is the home football stadium of Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras. It is also known as Estádio Parque Antarctica after Companhia Antarctica de Bebidas, a beverages company from which Palmeiras acquired the property in 1920. In the past its capacity was listed as 35,000 spectators. However, even though its grandstands have been extended in the late 1990s, currently it seats 29,173 people cite web | title = Palestra Itália | url=http://www.futebolpaulista.com.br/estadio.php?cod=18 | accessdate = 2008-01-03 | language = Portuguese | publisher=Federação Paulista de Futebol ] due to regulations enforcing improved safety and comfort.

It is one of the most important Brazilian stadiums, considering the amount of decisive and important matches played there, most of them with the presence of Palmeiras. Examples of matches played in Palestra Itália include 1999 Copa Libertadores final, the Copa Mercosur finals of 1998, 1999 and 2000, 1996 Copa do Brasil final and several Campeonato Paulista finals.

One of the 2000 Copa João Havelange (Copa João Havelange was the Campeonato Brasileiro edition of that year) final matches, between São Caetano and Vasco da Gama was played at Palestra Itália. In 2004, Copa do Brasil final matches, between Santo André and Flamengo was played there too.

Besides football matches, the Estádio Palestra Itália, because of its strategic localization in São Paulo, usually hosts important Brazilian and international musical events.

References

External links

* [http://mavalem.sites.uol.com.br/sp/SaoPaulo0.htm Templos do Futebol]