Estádio Mario Celso Petraglia (Formerly known as Estádio Joaquim Américo Guimarães), also known as Ligga Arena for sponsorship reasons or Arena da Baixada, is a stadium located in Curitiba, the state capital of Paraná, Brazil. It is the home stadium of Club Athletico Paranaense, and has a capacity of 42,372 people. The stadium was the first in Brazil to sell its naming rights; it was known as Kyocera Arena between 2005 and 1 April 2008. It was the first retractable roof stadium built in South America.[2]

Ligga Arena
Map
Full nameEstádio Mario Celso Petraglia
Former namesEstádio Joaquim Américo Guimarães, Kyocera Arena
LocationCuritiba, Paraná, Brazil
Coordinates25°26′54″S 49°16′37″W / 25.44833°S 49.27694°W / -25.44833; -49.27694
OwnerClub Athletico Paranaense
OperatorG3 United
Capacity42,372
Record attendanceNon-football: 45,925 (religious event, 27 July 2019) [1]
Football: 40,263 (Athletico Paranaense vs. Atletico Junior, 12 December 2018)
Field size105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft)
SurfaceArtificial grass
Construction
Broke groundDecember 1, 1997
OpenedJune 24, 1999
Renovated2009, 2012–2014
Tenants
Athletico Paranaense
Website
www.arenacap.com.br

With Curitiba selected as one of the host cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the stadium was rebuilt between 2012 and 2014. Its capacity was expanded to 42,372 seats.

Located in the Água Verde borough near the center of Curitiba, the history of the stadium began in the early twentieth century, when in 1914, Joaquim Américo Guimarães (1879–1917), then president of the International (the forefathers of Club Athletico Paranaense), led the construction of the then Arena da Baixada stadium. Athletico came into existence ten years later, inheriting the assets, including the stadium.

History

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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 1980, the stadium received its first floodlights. From 1986 to 1994, the stadium was closed and Athletico Paranaense played their games at Estadio Pinheirão.[3] After being reopened in 1994 and operating for some years, the old stadium building was demolished on March 26, 1997, 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 Kyocera Arena, after the Japanese company Kyocera purchased the naming rights. The contract with Kyocera ended in early 2008. It was not renewed, and no new partnership was announced. As a result, the stadium went back to its old name, Arena da Baixada.[4]

In February 2024, it was renamed Estádio Mario Celso Petraglia, in honor to its long-lasting president.

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

The inaugural match of the new stadium was played on 24 June 1999, when Athletico Paranaense beat Cerro Porteño of Paraguay 2–1. The first goal of the stadium after its reinauguration was scored by Athletico's Lucas Severino.[5]

The stadium's football attendance record currently stands at 40,263, set on 12 December 2018 when Athletico Paranaense defeated Atletico Junior on penalties for the 2018 Copa Sudamericana Final.[6][7]

The attendance record for a non-football event was registered on July 27, 2019, when "Semana de Avivamento" took place (a religious event among evangelical churches). On this day, 45,925 people attended the event.[8]

 
Arena da Baixada, in a game between Athletico Paranaense and Santos.

2014 FIFA World Cup

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Ever since renovation works were completed in June 1999, the historic Estádio Joaquim Américo has been considered by many experts and journalists as one of Brazil's most modern and best-appointed stadiums.

The stadium, which was originally constructed back in 1914, was one of the venues chosen to host games at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Prior to welcoming the global showpiece, the stadium underwent another set of renovation works from 2012 to 2014. The renovations were a series of improvements in facilities and the addition of rows of extra seats parallel to the pitch.[9] This resulted in an increased capacity of 42,000, which made it possible for the stadium to host four World Cup matches.[10]

Construction of the stadium did not come without difficulties. Building work at the stadium was suspended in October 2013 on the orders of a Brazilian labor tribunal due to numerous and serious safety breaches. "Countless infractions have been committed, in various stages of the building project," wrote the judge Lorena Colnago in her decision, the Paraná Regional Labor Tribunal said in a statement.[11] Subsequently, the planned retractable roof for the stadium was canceled because it would not be ready in time for the world cup.[12] In late 2014, construction of the planned retractable roof resumed. With the completion of the project in March 2015, Arena da Baixada became the first stadium in South America with a retractable roof.[13]

The official inauguration of the renovated stadium was on May 14, 2014, in a friendly match between Athletico and Corinthians Paulista that finished 2–1 to Corinthians in front of 30,000 people. The first goal was scored by Athletico's Marcelo Cirino in the 13th minute.[14][15]

The first match to be held during the world cup was played between Iran and Nigeria, on June 16, ending with no goals.

Matches

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Arena da Baixada in 2014 FIFA World Cup Group F match between Iran and Nigeria on 16 June 2014
Date Time (UTC-03) Team #1 Result Team #2 Round Attendance
June 16, 2014 16:00   Iran 0–0   Nigeria Group F 39,081
June 20, 2014 19:00   Honduras 1–2   Ecuador Group E 39,224
June 23, 2014 13:00   Australia 0–3   Spain Group B 39,375
June 26, 2014 17:00   Algeria 1–1   Russia Group H 39,311

UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic

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The event was the first that the promotion hosted in Curitiba. It was the fourth stadium venue and first Brazilian stadium to host a UFC event and drew 45,207 fans, then the third largest crowd in UFC's history.[16][17] Two Curitiba natives, Cris Cyborg and Shogun Rua, appeared on the official card with both winning their fights.

2017 FIVB Volleyball World League

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In 2017, the stadium hosted the final round of 2017 FIVB Volleyball World League.

Pool J1
Date Time Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total Report
4 Jul 15:05 Brazil   3–1   Canada 25–21 17–25 25–19 25–19   92–84 P2 P3
5 Jul 15:05 Russia   0–3   Canada 23–25 27–29 17–25     67–79 P2 P3
6 Jul 15:05 Brazil   3–2   Russia 25–18 18–25 25–19 22–25 16–14 106–101 P2 P3
Pool K1
Date Time Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total Report
4 Jul 17:40 France   3–2   United States 27–25 20–25 26–24 17–25 15–12 105–111 P2 P3
5 Jul 17:40 Serbia   1–3   United States 22–25 23–25 25–19 22–25   92–94 P2 P3
6 Jul 18:10 France   3–2   Serbia 25–21 25–20 17–25 18–25 15–11 100–102 P2 P3
Semifinals
Date Time Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total Report
7 Jul 15:05 Brazil   3–1   United States 25–20 23–25 25–20 25–19   98–84 P2 P3
7 Jul 17:50 France   3–1   Canada 25–19 22–25 25–19 25–21   97–84 P2 P3
3rd place match
Date Time Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total Report
8 Jul 20:00 United States   1–3   Canada 25–18 20–25 22–25 21–25   88–93 P2 P3
Final
Date Time Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total Report
8 Jul 23:05 Brazil   2–3   France 25–21 15–25 23–25 25–19 13–15 101–105 P2 P3

Further reading

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

References

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  1. ^ "Evento evangélico bate recorde de público da Arena da Baixada". Bem Parana (in Portuguese). July 28, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  2. ^ "Curitiba: Latin America's first retractable roof under way". Stadium DB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  3. ^ "Athletico Paranaense Stadium History". Athletico Paranaense Official Website. January 15, 2018. Archived from the original on January 15, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  4. ^ "Sem pressa, Atlético-PR negocia patrocínio" (in Portuguese). Máquina do Esporte. June 5, 2008. Archived from the original on June 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  5. ^ "Há 14 anos, Arena era inaugurada em noite mágica para atleticanos". Athletico Paranaense – Site Oficial (in Brazilian Portuguese). June 24, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  6. ^ "Atlético Become Athletico: Paranaense Win First International Trophy and Now Change Name and Badge". Yellow and Green Football. December 13, 2018. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  7. ^ "Atlético-PR quebra recorde de público da Arena em jogo do título". Gazeta Esportiva (in Portuguese). December 13, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  8. ^ "Evento evangélico bate recorde de público da Arena da Baixada". Bem Parana (in Portuguese). July 28, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  9. ^ "World Cup 2014 Stadium Profile: Arena da Baixada". www.goal.com. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  10. ^ "Arena da Baixada, Curitiba". FIFA. Archived from the original on January 30, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  11. ^ "Work on World Cup stadium suspended by Brazilian labour court". Irish Times. October 2, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  12. ^ "Delayed stadium in southern Brazilian city of Curitiba opens for test event". Prince-george-citizen.com. March 29, 2014. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  13. ^ "Curitiba: Latin America's first retractable roof under way". stadiumDB.com. November 27, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  14. ^ "Corinthians vence Atlético-PR na inauguração da Arena da Baixada". O Globo. May 14, 2014. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  15. ^ "WC officials pleased after Curitiba test". ESPN.com. May 15, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  16. ^ MMAjunkie Staff (February 7, 2016). "'UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic' official for May 14 in 40,000-seat Brazilian arena". mmajunkie.com/. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  17. ^ Staff (May 15, 2016). "UFC 198 attendance: Event draws 45,207 for third largest show in company history". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
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Preceded by FIVB Volleyball World League
Final Venue

2017
Succeeded by
Stade Pierre-Mauroy
Villeneuve-d'Ascq
(as FIVB Volleyball Men's Nations League Final Venue)