Arena do Grêmio

Lore & Background

In the mid-2000s, an idea came within Grêmio to build a new stadium. The idea was carried out in 2006 with the beginning of work viability studies. In May 2006, Grêmio's master patrimonial plan was formulated. In November 2006, a pre-feasibility study was made with the Dutch company Amsterdam Advisory Arena, concluding that Estádio Olímpico would not meet expectations. The club opted to build an Arena with financial assistance of partners. Construction began with fence installation in October 2009. On May 13, 2010, a flagpole with Grêmio's flag was inaugurated. The official launch of works took place on September 20, 2010, after a motorcade from Estádio Olímpico; Hugo de León planted grass from Olímpico on the Arena ground. In late February 2011, about three hundred workers stopped activities for better wages and conditions; requests were met quickly.

Reader's Guide

The stadium site is a mile from the international airport of Porto Alegre and alongside the road way. The complex includes a Conference and Congress Center, hotel, a mall, housing, condominiums and parking. The architectural firm PLARQ is responsible for the stadium project design and concept; OAS is the general contractor. The stadium received the highest rating in all aspects in Sisbrace, the Brazilian Ministry of Sport's football stadium evaluation system. It was not listed as a host of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but in 2019 it was selected as a venue for the 2019 Copa América where five matches were played.

Did You Know?

• The first concert at Arena do Grêmio was in April 2013, celebrating the 72nd birthday of singer Roberto Carlos with a sold-out audience of 50,000.
• In June 2014, the Arena hosted the first show of the 2014 Green Valley World Tour, featuring Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, to an audience of over 14,000 fans.
• The stadium's concept intends to be functional year-round as part of a multifunctional urban center.