Estádio do Morumbi

Estádio Cícero Pompeu de Toledo is a stadium in São Paulo, Brazil, popularly known as Estádio do Morumbi, or just Morumbi, because of its location in the city’s Morumbi neighborhood. It is the home ground of São Paulo Futebol Clube and its formal name honors Cícero Pompeu de Toledo, who was São Paulo FC’s chairman during most of the stadium construction, and died before its inauguration. The stadium was designed by the architect João Batista Vilanova Artigas.

Morumbi once held 120,000 seats, but now its maximum capacity is only 80,000 seats, and only 75,000 tickets are sold each game for safety reasons. The playing field measures 108.25 metres (118.38 yd) x 72.70 metres (79.51 yd).

History

In 1952, São Paulo’s chairman Cícero Pompeu de Toledo requested the city’s mayor Armando de Arruda Pereira a groundplot in the Ibirapuera neighborhood. However, the mayor refused the request, but donated a groundplot in the Morumbi neighborhood to São Paulo.

On August 15, 1952, the stadium construction started. Only eight years later, in 1960, the construction was partially concluded, and the stadium was inaugurated with a maximum capacity of 70,000 people.

The inaugural match was played on October 2, 1960, when São Paulo beat Sporting Lisbon of Portugal 1-0. The first goal of the stadium was scored by São Paulo’s Peixinho.

On March 2, 1969, shortly after the end of the São Paulo-Corinthians 2-4 match, a thunderbolt discharged close to the stadium, starting a tumult in the stadium exit doors. Because of the tumult, one of the walls collapsed, and a 40-year old Corinthians supporter named João Benedetti died.

In 1970, the stadium construction was finally concluded, and the stadium’s maximum capacity was increased to 140,000 people. The re-inaugural match between São Paulo and FC Porto drew 1-1.

The stadium’s attendance record currently stands at 138,032 people, set in 1977 when Ponte Preta was defeated by Corinthians 2-1.

In 1994, a major overhaul of the stadium started, which was concluded only in 2000. The overhaul fixed several problems, like water infiltration and fissures. A new illumination system was installed, and the safety conditions were improved. The stadium’s maximum capacity was reduced to 80,000 people.

Events

The stadium has been host to many international shows, including: Nirvana, Michael Jackson, Madonna (who performed one show at the stadium in 1993 with The Girlie Show Tour, and three shows in 2008, closing the South American leg of her Sticky & Sweet Tour), Kiss, Aerosmith, Linkin Park, U2, RBD, High School Musical and Queen.

Estádio do Morumbi Pics

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