Key facts
Club: Cuiabá EC | Opening: 2014 | Capacity: 44,000 seats
History and description
The Arena Pantanal was built to serve as one of the playing venues of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. It replaced the old Estádio José Fragelli (Verdão), which used to be the principal football stadium of the city of Cuiabá.
Verdão got demolished in 2010, and works on the new stadium commenced later that year. Subsequent delays pushed back completion repeatedly and final works were only completed a month before the start of the World Cup.
The Arena Pantanal first hosted a football match on 2 April 2014 when Mixto and Santos squared off in a Copa do Brasil match (0-0). However, only the lower tier was in use for that games as works continued on the upper tiers.
During the 2014 World Cup, the Arena Pantanal hosted a total of four first round group matches.
After the World Cup, it was planned to reduce capacity back to 28,000 seats by dismantling the upper parts of both ends but these works were never executed.
After the World Cup, the stadium became the home of Cuiaba and a few smaller local clubs including Mixto and Dom Bosco.
How to get to the Arena Pantanal
The Arena Pantanal is located about 3 kilometres east of the Praça da República square in the centre of Cuiabá.
You can about just walk from the centre. The adjacent Popular area, which holds most restaurants and nightlife, is even closer. Taking a taxi will likely be more convenient though.
Address: Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá
Eat, drink, and sleep near Arena Pantanal
The Arena Pantanal is located in a quiet residential neighbourhood with little around in terms of eating and drinking, which is best done in the Popular area near Cuiaba’s city centre.
There are no hotels in the immediate vicinity of the stadium, but various hotels in Cuiaba city centre and surroundings. Click here for an overview of hotels in Cuiaba.
Cuiaba Tickets
Tickets for Cuiabá matches can be purchased online via Tickethub, at the club store at Shopping Estacao mall about a kilometre north of the Arena Pantanal, or at one of a few other sales points, though none very central.
Tickets are also available at the stadium before the match. Cuiaba rarely sell out and often only limited parts of the stadium open.
Tickets prices depend on the opponent but expect to pay R$ 20.00 for a typical match.
Photos of Arena Pantanal
Useful Internet links
Cuiabaesporteclube.com.br – Official website of Cuiabá EC.