Arena da Amazônia facts for kids
 |
|
Aerial view of the stadium in 2022
Sisbrace  |
|
| Full name | Arena da Amazônia - Vivaldo Lima |
|---|---|
| Location | Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil |
| Coordinates | 3°4′59″S 60°1′41″W / 3.08306°S 60.02806°W |
| Owner | Amazonas State Government |
| Executive suites | 68 |
| Capacity | 42,924 |
| Field size | 105 x 68 m |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 2010–14 |
| Opened | 9 March 2014 |
| Construction cost | R$605 million US$270 million €200 million |
| Architect | gmp |
| Tenants | |
| Amazonas (some games; 2023-present) Nacional (2014–present) Manaus Futebol Clube (some games) Brazil national football team (selected matches) |
|
The Arena da Amazônia (which means Amazon Arena) is a cool football stadium in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. It was built where the old Vivaldão stadium used to be. This stadium can hold about 42,924 people in its seats.
Construction on the Arena da Amazônia started in 2010 and finished in 2014. It was built to help Brazil host the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The stadium also hosted football games during the 2016 Summer Olympics. During the World Cup, it had a slightly smaller capacity of 40,549 fans.
Contents
Building the Amazon Arena
The Arena da Amazônia is located between the Manaus International Airport and the city's historic center. It's also close to the Manaus Convention Center. The cost to build it was shared. The Amazonas State Government paid 25%, and the Brazilian Development Bank paid 75%.
A German company called Gerkan, Marg and Partners designed the stadium. They got their ideas from the amazing Amazon rainforest that surrounds Manaus. The stadium's metal outside looks like the straw baskets made by people in the region.
The Brazilian company Andrade Gutierrez built the arena. It has many features that help the environment. The stadium can fit around 44,300 people. It also has a restaurant, fancy suites, and underground parking. It's easy for people with special needs to get around.
To save water, the stadium has a system that recycles rainwater. It also treats sewage. The design uses natural air flow to keep it cool, saving energy. When they tore down the old stadium, over 95% of the materials were recycled!
Manaus is very hot because it's near the equator. So, the stadium was designed to stay as cool as possible inside. It has a white outside that reflects sunlight. There's lots of shade over the seats. Many openings in the building's walls let air move through.
Even with these efforts, some people worried about the extreme heat in Manaus for players. England's football manager, Roy Hodgson, mentioned this concern. England played its first game against Italy in Manaus and lost 2–1.
Some people have said the stadium is too big for Manaus after the World Cup. Local football games usually don't attract huge crowds. Since the World Cup, the Arena da Amazônia has been used for some professional matches. It has also hosted Christian events and a Guns N' Roses concert. The stadium hosted several football matches for the 2016 Olympics. It also held some of Brazil's qualifying games for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Hosting the 2014 World Cup
The stadium was still being built in February 2014. Some people wondered if it would be ready for the FIFA World Cup.
But the stadium opened on March 9, 2014. Its first match was a cup game between two Northern Brazilian teams, Nacional FC and Clube do Remo.
The Arena da Amazônia hosted four exciting games during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
| Date | Time (UTC-04) | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 14, 2014 | 18:00 |  England |
1–2 |  Italy |
Group D | 39,800 |
| June 18, 2014 | 18:00 |  Cameroon |
0–4 |  Croatia |
Group A | 39,982 |
| June 22, 2014 | 18:00 |  United States |
2–2 |  Portugal |
Group G | 40,123 |
| June 25, 2014 | 16:00 |  Honduras |
0–3 |  Switzerland |
Group E | 40,322 |
Brazil's National Team Matches
The Arena da Amazônia has also hosted matches for Brazil's national football team. These games were part of the qualifying rounds for the FIFA World Cup.
| Date | Time (UTC-04) | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2016 | 20:45 |  Brazil |
2–1 |  Colombia |
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | 36,609 |
| October 14, 2021 | 20:30 | 4–1 |  Uruguay |
2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | 12,500 |
The Arena and its Community
The Arena da Amazônia is a source of pride for people living in Manaus. The four World Cup matches in 2014 brought global attention to the city. The stadium's Amazon-inspired design was first seen as a way to bring new jobs and money to the area.
However, it has been hard to keep the community involved since the 2014 FIFA World Cup. This is because there aren't enough big events to fill the 44,000-seat stadium often. Even though it hosts local soccer games and concerts, it has struggled to be a busy place for Manaus residents. This is partly because there isn't a major local soccer team that consistently plays there.
The stadium doesn't have as many regular events as a big city stadium usually would. But it still plays a role in the community. It has helped Manaus by hosting cultural festivals. These different uses mean the stadium is becoming a public space for many things, not just sports.
Hosting only four World Cup matches didn't seem to justify the high cost of building it. This is especially true without a major local soccer team or many large events. The stadium struggles to make enough money. Its location deep in the Amazon rainforest also limits the number of events it can host. It's harder to get to than stadiums in Brazil's bigger cities.
What the Arena Cost and Brought
Many locals felt that the large amount of money spent on the stadium could have been used for other important things. They thought the funds could have gone to healthcare, education, or improving roads in Manaus. The stadium cost around $300 million. Some residents felt this money was spent to impress international visitors. They believed it didn't help the real needs of the Manaus community.
Building the Arena da Amazônia did lead to some city improvements in Manaus. These were mainly to help visitors for the 2014 World Cup. For example, Eduardo Gomes International Airport was upgraded to handle more people. Roads leading to the stadium were also improved. However, these transportation upgrades were mostly limited to the stadium area. They didn't help public transport for everyone in the city.
Because government money focused on the stadium instead of public needs, some residents felt left out. They thought the project didn't improve their daily lives or access to services. In 2014, the stadium put Manaus on the world map. But it has been hard for it to become a lasting part of the local economy. High maintenance costs and less demand for big events have limited its economic value.
The limited use of the Arena da Amazônia shows a common problem with big sports projects. Sometimes, they don't bring long-term benefits to local communities. This stadium was very expensive to build. But it has struggled to live up to that investment. This is due to its remote location and limited demand for events. This situation highlights how sometimes big sports events are prioritized over more important local needs.
See also
In Spanish: Arena da Amazônia para niños
- Estádio Vivaldo Lima
- Lists of stadiums
