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| Full name | Estádio Mario Celso Petraglia |
|---|---|
| Former names | Estádio Joaquim Américo Guimarães, Kyocera Arena |
| Location | Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil |
| Coordinates | 25°26′54″S49°16′37″W / 25.44833°S 49.27694°W /-25.44833; -49.27694 |
| Owner | Club Athletico Paranaense |
| Operator | G3 United |
| Capacity | 42,372 |
| Record attendance | Non-football: 45,925 (religious event, 27 July 2019)[1] Football: 42,177 (Athletico Paranaense vs.Atlético Goianiense,20 November 2024) |
| Field size | 105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft) |
| Surface | Artificial grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | December 1, 1997 |
| Opened | June 24, 1999 |
| Renovated | 2009, 2012–2014 |
| Tenants | |
| Athletico Paranaense | |
| Website | |
| www | |
Estádio Mario Celso Petraglia (Formerly known asEstádio Joaquim Américo Guimarães), also known asLigga Arena for sponsorship reasons orArena da Baixada, is a stadium located inCuritiba, the state capital ofParaná, Brazil. It is the home stadium ofClub Athletico Paranaense, and has a capacity of 42,372 people. The stadium was the first in Brazil to sell itsnaming rights; it was known asKyocera Arena between 2005 and 1 April 2008. It was the firstretractable roof stadium built in South America.[2]
With Curitiba selected as one of the host cities of the2014 FIFA World Cup, the stadium was rebuilt between 2012 and 2014. Its capacity was expanded to 42,372 seats.
Located in the Água Verde borough near the center of Curitiba, the history of the stadium began in the early twentieth century, when in 1914, Joaquim Américo Guimarães (1879–1917), then president of the International (the forefathers of Club Athletico Paranaense), led the construction of the then Arena da Baixada stadium. Athletico came into existence ten years later, inheriting the assets, including the stadium.
The stadium was built at the previous location of aBrazilian Army powder depot. In 1934, the stadium was renamed Estádio Joaquim Américo Guimarães. In 1980, the stadium received its first floodlights. From 1986 to 1994, the stadium was closed and Athletico Paranaense played their games atEstadio Pinheirão.[3] After being reopened in 1994 and operating for some years, the old stadium building was demolished on March 26, 1997, right after a construction project of a new arena was announced. In June 1999, the new stadium was built. In 2005, the stadium was renamedKyocera Arena, after the Japanese companyKyocera purchased thenaming rights. The contract with Kyocera ended in early 2008. It was not renewed, and no new partnership was announced. As a result, the stadium went back to its old name,Arena da Baixada.[4]
In February 2024, it was renamed EstádioMario Celso Petraglia, in honor to its long-lasting president.
The inaugural match of the old stadium was played on 6 September 1914, whenFlamengo beatInternacional 7–1. The first goal of the stadium was scored by Flamengo's Arnaldo.
The inaugural match of the new stadium was played on 24 June 1999, whenAthletico Paranaense beatCerro Porteño of Paraguay 2–1. The first goal of the stadium after its reinauguration was scored by Athletico'sLucas Severino.[5]
The stadium's football attendance record currently stands at 40,263, set on 12 December 2018 when Athletico Paranaense defeatedAtletico Junior on penalties for the2018 Copa Sudamericana Final.[6][7]
The attendance record for a non-football event was registered on July 27, 2019, when "Semana de Avivamento" took place (a religious event among evangelical churches). On this day, 45,925 people attended the event.[8]
Ever since renovation works were completed in June 1999, the historic Estádio Joaquim Américo has been considered by many experts and journalists as one of Brazil's most modern and best-appointed stadiums.
The stadium, which was originally constructed back in 1914, was one of the venues chosen to host games at the2014 FIFA World Cup.
Prior to welcoming the global showpiece, the stadium underwent another set of renovation works from 2012 to 2014. The renovations were a series of improvements in facilities and the addition of rows of extra seats parallel to the pitch.[9] This resulted in an increased capacity of 42,000, which made it possible for the stadium to host four World Cup matches.[10]
Construction of the stadium did not come without difficulties. Building work at the stadium was suspended in October 2013 on the orders of a Brazilian labor tribunal due to numerous and serious safety breaches. "Countless infractions have been committed, in various stages of the building project," wrote the judge Lorena Colnago in her decision, the Paraná Regional Labor Tribunal said in a statement.[11] Subsequently, the planned retractable roof for the stadium was canceled because it would not be ready in time for the world cup.[12] In late 2014, construction of the planned retractable roof resumed. With the completion of the project in March 2015, Arena da Baixada became the first stadium in South America with a retractable roof.[13]
The official inauguration of the renovated stadium was on May 14, 2014, in a friendly match between Athletico andCorinthians Paulista that finished 2–1 to Corinthians in front of 30,000 people. The first goal was scored by Athletico'sMarcelo Cirino in the 13th minute.[14][15]
The first match to be held during theworld cup was played betweenIran andNigeria, on June 16, ending with no goals.
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| Date | Time (UTC-03) | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 16, 2014 | 16:00 |  Iran | 0–0 |  Nigeria | Group F | 39,081 |
| June 20, 2014 | 19:00 |  Honduras | 1–2 |  Ecuador | Group E | 39,224 |
| June 23, 2014 | 13:00 |  Australia | 0–3 |  Spain | Group B | 39,375 |
| June 26, 2014 | 17:00 |  Algeria | 1–1 |  Russia | Group H | 39,311 |
The event was the first that the promotion hosted inCuritiba. It was the fourthstadium venue and first Brazilian stadium to host a UFC event and drew 45,207 fans, then the third largest crowd in UFC's history.[16][17] Two Curitiba natives,Cris Cyborg andShogun Rua, appeared on the official card with both winning their fights.
In 2017, the stadium hosted the final round of2017 FIVB Volleyball World League.
| Date | Time | Score | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jul | 15:05 | Brazil  | 3–1 |  Canada | 25–21 | 17–25 | 25–19 | 25–19 | 92–84 | P2P3 | |
| 5 Jul | 15:05 | Russia | 0–3 | Canada | 23–25 | 27–29 | 17–25 | 67–79 | P2P3 | ||
| 6 Jul | 15:05 | Brazil | 3–2 | Russia | 25–18 | 18–25 | 25–19 | 22–25 | 16–14 | 106–101 | P2P3 |
| Date | Time | Score | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jul | 17:40 | France  | 3–2 |  United States | 27–25 | 20–25 | 26–24 | 17–25 | 15–12 | 105–111 | P2P3 |
| 5 Jul | 17:40 | Serbia  | 1–3 | United States | 22–25 | 23–25 | 25–19 | 22–25 | 92–94 | P2P3 | |
| 6 Jul | 18:10 | France | 3–2 | Serbia | 25–21 | 25–20 | 17–25 | 18–25 | 15–11 | 100–102 | P2P3 |
| Date | Time | Score | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Jul | 15:05 | Brazil | 3–1 | United States | 25–20 | 23–25 | 25–20 | 25–19 | 98–84 | P2P3 | |
| 7 Jul | 17:50 | France | 3–1 | Canada | 25–19 | 22–25 | 25–19 | 25–21 | 97–84 | P2P3 |
| Date | Time | Score | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jul | 20:00 | United States | 1–3 | Canada | 25–18 | 20–25 | 22–25 | 21–25 | 88–93 | P2P3 |
| Date | Time | Score | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jul | 23:05 | Brazil | 2–3 | France | 25–21 | 15–25 | 23–25 | 25–19 | 13–15 | 101–105 | P2P3 |
| Preceded by | FIVB Volleyball World League Final Venue 2017 | Succeeded by |
