Key facts
Club: Nacional FC | Opening: 2014 | Capacity: 44,500 seats
History and description
The Arena da Amazônia was built to serve as one of playing venues for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. It replaced the old Vivaldão stadium, which used to be the main stadium of the city.
Demolition of Vivaldão started in March 2010 and in early 2011 construction began of the new stadium. The Arena da Amazônia was initially planned to be completed early 2013, but various delays pushed the opening back to early 2014.
The Arena da Amazônia was designed by German architecture firm gmp Architekten, also responsible for Frankfurt’s Commerzbank Arena and Warsaw’s Stadion Narodowy. The shape of the stadium is meant to resemble a traditional indigenous basket and takes into account the area’s challenging climatic conditions.
The roof’s steel structure is designed to serve as a large gutter that drains the tropical rain water, the roof’s coating reflects heat radiation and thus has a cooling effect and openings in the roof and facade stimulate ventilation.
The Arena da Amazônia officially opened on 9 March 2014 with a match between Nacional FC and Remo (2-2) for the Copa Verde.
During the 2014 World Cup, the Arena da Amazônia hosted four first round group matches.
After the World Cup, the stadium became the permanent home of Nacional FC. Manaus FC furthermore plays the occasional high-profile match at the stadium.
How to get to the Arena da Amazonia
The Arena da Amazônia is located toward the north of the city of Manaus on the main road that leads from the city centre (Centro) to the international airport. The distance from Manaus city centre and the Amazon river is a little over 5 kilometres, while the airport lies 7 kilometres further north.
Take a taxi or catch one of the many buses that runs up the Av. Constantino Nervy from the city centre.
Address: Arena da Amazônia, Flores, Manaus
Eat, drink, and sleep near the Arena da Amazonia
The Arena da Amazônia is located on one of Manaus’ main arteries in an area that is a mix of other sports and entertainment facilities, such as the local Sambadrome, retail, light industry, and some residential buildings.
There is the typical roadside fare around if you are looking for something quick to eat, while the nearby Amazonas Shopping Centre (15 minutes walking) has some fast food as well. Overall though, the area is of little interest and eating and drinking is better done in Manaus’ pleasant city centre.
There are a few hotels within walking distance of the stadium. Both Cesar Business Manaus and Hotel Millennium get very good reviews and are less than 15 minutes walking from the stadium. Otherwise there are a few more hotels on the way to the centre, and plenty more in Manaus’ city centre, which is also where most of Manaus’ nightlife is.
Click here for an overview of hotels near the Arena da Amazônia and here for the options in Manaus’ centre. Finally, you could opt for a resort style hotel in the upscale Ponta Negra area, which, though further away from the stadium, offers the pleasure of an Amazon river beach and some restaurants and nightlife.
Nacional Tickets
Tickets for Nacional games can be bought at the club office at Rua São Luiz 230 (app. 2 kilometres north of the centre) from a few days before the match.
Tickets are also available at the ticket windows of Arena da Amazonia before the start of the match.
Expect to pay R$ 20.00 for a ticket.
Nacional may at times play lower-profile matches at Estadio Ismael Benigno.
Photos of the Arena da Amazonia
Useful Internet links
Nacionalfc.com.br – Official website of Nacional Futebol Clube.