![\"Arena](\"https:\/\/www.stadiumguide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/castelao_top-1100x731.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\nKey facts<\/h3>\n
Club: Cear\u00e1 SC & Fortaleza EC | Opening: 1973 | Capacity: 63,903 seats<\/p>\n
History and description<\/h3>\n
Arena Castel\u00e3o, originally called Est\u00e1dio Governador Pl\u00e1cido Aderaldo Castelo, opened on 11 November 1973 with a match between Cear\u00e1 and Fortaleza (0-0).<\/p>\n
The stadium was built at the initiative of state governor Pl\u00e1cido Castelo, after whom the stadium got subsequently named. It soon got referred to as Castel\u00e3o though, after the area it stands in.<\/p>\n
Castel\u00e3o initially consisted of one small continuous oval-shaped tier and large ramps at both sides. The stadium did not have cover yet and could hold about 70,000 fans.<\/p>\n
In 1980, the second tier was extended over the entire stadium, and soon after an estimated 118,000 people attended an international between Brazil and Uruguay.<\/p>\n
The stadium received cover in 2002 and subsequent renovations brought back capacity to about 60,000.<\/p>\n
Not much later, Castel\u00e3o got selected as one of the playing venues of the 2014 World Cup<\/a>, and therefore required a more substantial redevelopment.<\/p>\n Works started early 2011 and involved the demolition and reconstruction of the bottom tier, the installation of a new roof, and the refurbishment of the rest of the stadium. The stadium officially reopened on 16 December 2012. At the same time it got renamed Arena Castel\u00e3o.<\/p>\n During the 2014 World Cup, Arena Castel\u00e3o hosted four first round group matches, a round of 16 match, and the quarter-final between Brazil and Colombia (2-1). The stadium was also one of the playing venues of the 2013 Confederations Cup.<\/p>\n
![\n \n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t \n \n \n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t \n \n \n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n \n\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n(Photos of the present Arena Castel\u00e3o below)<\/p>\nHow to get to Arena Castelao<\/h3>\nArena Castel\u00e3o is located in the south of the city of Fortaleza, about 10 kilometres from the Drag\u00e3o do Mar area and nearby Iracema beach and a similar distance from the beaches in the east.<\/p>\nFortaleza has recently opened a new metro, though it does not pass Castel\u00e3o directly. Stop Parangaba is somewhat in the direction, and you can take a taxi from there or inquire about local buses.<\/p>\nFrom the centre take bus 666 to get to the stadium. Take the bus from the Rua Pedro I at the corner of the Rua Solon Pinheiro. Take the bus that goes to Jardim Castel\u00e3o.<\/p>\nFortaleza\u2019s airport lies also toward the south, approximately 3.5 kilometres north of the stadium, and is therefore a reasonable taxi ride away.<\/p>\nAddress: Avenida Alberto Craveiro s\/n, Castel\u00e3o, Fortaleza<\/p>\n\n\n](\"https:\/\/www.stadiumguide.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/castelaopast\/castelaopast1.jpg\"\n){kind=link}
![\n \n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t \n \n \n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n \n\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n(Photos of the present Arena Castel\u00e3o below)<\/p>\nHow to get to Arena Castelao<\/h3>\nArena Castel\u00e3o is located in the south of the city of Fortaleza, about 10 kilometres from the Drag\u00e3o do Mar area and nearby Iracema beach and a similar distance from the beaches in the east.<\/p>\nFortaleza has recently opened a new metro, though it does not pass Castel\u00e3o directly. Stop Parangaba is somewhat in the direction, and you can take a taxi from there or inquire about local buses.<\/p>\nFrom the centre take bus 666 to get to the stadium. Take the bus from the Rua Pedro I at the corner of the Rua Solon Pinheiro. Take the bus that goes to Jardim Castel\u00e3o.<\/p>\nFortaleza\u2019s airport lies also toward the south, approximately 3.5 kilometres north of the stadium, and is therefore a reasonable taxi ride away.<\/p>\nAddress: Avenida Alberto Craveiro s\/n, Castel\u00e3o, Fortaleza<\/p>\n\n\n](\"https:\/\/www.stadiumguide.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/castelaopast\/castelaopast2.jpg\"\n){kind=link}
![\n \n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n \n\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n(Photos of the present Arena Castel\u00e3o below)<\/p>\nHow to get to Arena Castelao<\/h3>\nArena Castel\u00e3o is located in the south of the city of Fortaleza, about 10 kilometres from the Drag\u00e3o do Mar area and nearby Iracema beach and a similar distance from the beaches in the east.<\/p>\nFortaleza has recently opened a new metro, though it does not pass Castel\u00e3o directly. Stop Parangaba is somewhat in the direction, and you can take a taxi from there or inquire about local buses.<\/p>\nFrom the centre take bus 666 to get to the stadium. Take the bus from the Rua Pedro I at the corner of the Rua Solon Pinheiro. Take the bus that goes to Jardim Castel\u00e3o.<\/p>\nFortaleza\u2019s airport lies also toward the south, approximately 3.5 kilometres north of the stadium, and is therefore a reasonable taxi ride away.<\/p>\nAddress: Avenida Alberto Craveiro s\/n, Castel\u00e3o, Fortaleza<\/p>\n\n\n](\"https:\/\/www.stadiumguide.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/castelaopast\/castelaopast3.jpg\"\n){kind=link}