Mangueirão

Lore & Background

The Mangueirão stadium architectonical project is from August 1969. The stadium was designed by Alcyr Meira, a local architect. The Pará State Governor of that time, Alacid Nunes, ordered a 120,000 people football stadium construction project. The works started in 1970, when were built the ditch, the field and the general bleachers. A year later, the project was changed, and the stadium maximum capacity was reduced from 120,000 to 70,000. In 1971 the construction works restarted, with the construction of the first structural module. The stadium had its first stage of construction completed in 1978. The Mangueirão remained unfinished for many years and was nicknamed 'bandola' for having only one side of the bleachers covered and painted in a marajoara motif. The opening match was played on 4 March 1978, when a Pará All-Stars team beat a Youngsters Uruguay national team 4–0. The first goal of the stadium was scored by Pará's Mesquita. Earlier, in an unofficial opening, Remo beat Operário 2–0. In 2000, the Mangueirão underwent renovations for the completion of the bleachers and the inclusion of an athletics track that lasted until 2002. At the stadium's reinauguration, on 5 May 2002, Paysandu and Remo tied 2–2 in a match valid for the Campeonato Paraense. The official name of the stadium was changed to the journalist Edgar Augusto Proença. From 2002 to 2009, the Mangueirão hosted the Grande Prêmio Brasil Caixa de Atletismo, with a record attendance in Latin America in 2005, with more than 40,000 spectators for this sport category. The biggest attendance that the stadium received after its first renovation was 57,930, on 15 May 2003, when Paysandu lost to Boca Juniors in a match valid for the Copa Libertadores. On 23 February 2021, a general renovation and expansion of the stadium was announced by the state government. Some FIFA standard modifications would be implemented, besides the addition of a control center for the Video assistant referee. Close to the reopening, the stadium hosted two test events, with games between Remo and Paysandu valid for the semi-finals of the 2023 Copa Verde, on March 26 and 29, respectively. The official reopening took place on 9 April, in a derby match valid for the last round of Campeonato Paraense, with a 1–0 victory for Paysandu.

In Their Own Story

The humid air hung heavy over the pitch as the Flamengo bus arrived in Belém. Inside the Mangueirão, the roar was not just sound but a physical force, vibrating through the concrete seats where thousands of fans in blue-and-white or red-and-green waited. As the players stepped onto the grass, the tropical sun glared off the metal structure above. It was a reminder that even for giants from Rio, this arena demanded respect; here, the game was played under the watchful eyes of an Amazonian crowd that knew no fear.

Reader's Guide

The stadium is located in Belém, Pará, Brazil. It has a current seated capacity of 53,645. It is mainly used for football matches between the major football clubs in Pará, including Paysandu, Remo and Tuna Luso.

Did You Know?

• The stadium's architectonical project dates from August 1969, designed by local architect Alcyr Meira.
• The opening match on 4 March 1978 saw a Pará All-Stars team beat a Youngsters Uruguay national team 4–0.
• The stadium was nicknamed 'bandola' because only one side of the bleachers was covered and painted in a marajoara motif.
• The biggest attendance after the first renovation was 57,930 on 15 May 2003 for a Copa Libertadores match between Paysandu and Boca Juniors.