Estádio São Januário
Encyclopedia
Estádio Vasco da Gama, also known as Estádio São Januário, owing to its location on a street of the same name, is the home ground of Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama
. Its facade is listed by the National Historical and Artistic Heritage.
It is located in the Vasco da Gama neighbourhood
, Rio de Janeiro
, Brazil
, on a hill near the National Observatory of Brazil. Because of its position it is often referred to as Estádio da Colina (Hill's Stadium) which in turn has given Vasco the nickname of Gigante da Colina (Hill's Giant). It is one of the few soccer specific stadiums in the world which has both team benches and coaching areas behind the goal line on the same end of the field.
The stadium had a capacity of 15,150 and it was inaugurated on April 27, 1927, with the presence of Washington Luís, Brazilian president in that time. The first event held in the stadium was a match between Vasco and Santos, which Santos won. São Januário was the biggest stadium in the New World until 1930 when Estádio Centenário
of Montevideo was inaugurated for the first World Cup in 1930. It was the biggest in Brazil
until 1940 when Pacaembu was built in São Paulo (Public Venue, still the biggest private venue in Brazil). It was the biggest in Rio de Janeiro when Maracanã was built for the World Cup and even today, 83 years afterwards, it still stands as the biggest private venue in the State of Rio de Janeiro.
This stadium has also historic importance, because Brazilian president Getúlio Vargas
used it many times to do deliver speeches to the Brazilian people. Vargas announced the first Brazilian work laws on the tribune of São Januário. For the 2016 Olympics, the stadium will act as the venue for Rugby Sevens
in its debut as an Olympic sport.
Vasco da Gama, owner of São Januário, is the only Rio de Janeiro big soccer club to have its private stadium. Other big clubs (as Flamengo, Fluminense and Botafogo) have to rent other places (Flamengo and Fluminense play at Maracanã
owned by Rio de Janeiro State and Botafogo plays at Engenhão owned by Rio de Janeiro City).
.
), is smaller than main and it's located behind the Aquatic park.
The importance of this chapel is so big that many projects to remodel the stadium was discarded just because they considered its demolition.
, Vasco used to play the city derbies at São Januário. After Maracanã was opened, in 1950, the derbies moved to there. Since then, though, a few of those derbies have been played at São Januário, mostly when Maracanã was undergoing refurbishing. The last derby played there was in 2005 against Flamengo for the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2005
, with Vasco winning, 2-1. Here is Vasco's home record against its major rivals:
Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama
Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama |Rowing Club]]), usually known as Vasco da Gama or simply Vasco, is a famous and traditional Brazilian multisports club from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, founded on August 21, 1898...
. Its facade is listed by the National Historical and Artistic Heritage.
It is located in the Vasco da Gama neighbourhood
Vasco da Gama (neighborhood)
Vasco da Gama is a neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil....
, Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, on a hill near the National Observatory of Brazil. Because of its position it is often referred to as Estádio da Colina (Hill's Stadium) which in turn has given Vasco the nickname of Gigante da Colina (Hill's Giant). It is one of the few soccer specific stadiums in the world which has both team benches and coaching areas behind the goal line on the same end of the field.
The stadium had a capacity of 15,150 and it was inaugurated on April 27, 1927, with the presence of Washington Luís, Brazilian president in that time. The first event held in the stadium was a match between Vasco and Santos, which Santos won. São Januário was the biggest stadium in the New World until 1930 when Estádio Centenário
Estádio Centenário
Estádio Francisco Stédile, usually known as Estádio Centenário, is a multi-use stadium in Caxias do Sul, Brazil. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium has a capacity of 30,802 people. It was built in 1976. The stadium was named after Francisco Stédile, who was Caxias'...
of Montevideo was inaugurated for the first World Cup in 1930. It was the biggest in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
until 1940 when Pacaembu was built in São Paulo (Public Venue, still the biggest private venue in Brazil). It was the biggest in Rio de Janeiro when Maracanã was built for the World Cup and even today, 83 years afterwards, it still stands as the biggest private venue in the State of Rio de Janeiro.
This stadium has also historic importance, because Brazilian president Getúlio Vargas
Getúlio Vargas
Getúlio Dornelles Vargas served as President of Brazil, first as dictator, from 1930 to 1945, and in a democratically elected term from 1951 until his suicide in 1954. Vargas led Brazil for 18 years, the most for any President, and second in Brazilian history to Emperor Pedro II...
used it many times to do deliver speeches to the Brazilian people. Vargas announced the first Brazilian work laws on the tribune of São Januário. For the 2016 Olympics, the stadium will act as the venue for Rugby Sevens
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
in its debut as an Olympic sport.
Vasco da Gama, owner of São Januário, is the only Rio de Janeiro big soccer club to have its private stadium. Other big clubs (as Flamengo, Fluminense and Botafogo) have to rent other places (Flamengo and Fluminense play at Maracanã
Estádio do Maracanã
The Estádio do Maracanã , officially Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, is an open-air stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Owned by the Rio de Janeiro State Government, it is named after the Maracanã neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro. It was opened in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup, and in the final...
owned by Rio de Janeiro State and Botafogo plays at Engenhão owned by Rio de Janeiro City).
Aquatics centre
The Sao Januario Aquatics Centre opened on August 30, 1953 and is used by the swimming school. In 1998, it held one event of the FINA Swimming World CupFINA Swimming World Cup
The FINA Swimming World Cup is an international series of short course swimming meets organized by FINA, the International Federation for swimming...
.
Courts
This stadium has two courts. The first opened on September 23, 1956, and it is the main court. In 1999, this court was remodeled and its capacity increased to 2,500 seats. The second court, denominated forninho (little oven in PortuguesePortuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
), is smaller than main and it's located behind the Aquatic park.
Chapel
Between the football stadium and Aquatic park it's located the Nossa Senhora das Vitórias's chapel. The project of this chapel was made by Álvaro Nascimento Rodrigues and José Ribeiro de Paiva and it was opened on August 15, 1955.The importance of this chapel is so big that many projects to remodel the stadium was discarded just because they considered its demolition.
Trophy room
Located just after the stadium front door, the trophy room has about 8,000 trophies, cup, plates, medals and photos earnings on the whole club's historyDerbies
Until the constructuion of MaracanãEstádio do Maracanã
The Estádio do Maracanã , officially Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, is an open-air stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Owned by the Rio de Janeiro State Government, it is named after the Maracanã neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro. It was opened in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup, and in the final...
, Vasco used to play the city derbies at São Januário. After Maracanã was opened, in 1950, the derbies moved to there. Since then, though, a few of those derbies have been played at São Januário, mostly when Maracanã was undergoing refurbishing. The last derby played there was in 2005 against Flamengo for the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2005
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2005
Corinthians won the 35th edition of the Brazilian national championship, claiming their fourth national title. The season officially kicked off on April 23, 2005 and concluded on December 4.-Champion and contenders:...
, with Vasco winning, 2-1. Here is Vasco's home record against its major rivals:
| Opponent | G | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Botafogo Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas , also known as Botafogo and familiarly as Estrela Solitária, is a Brazilian sports club based in Botafogo, neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, best known for its football team. They play in the Campeonato Carioca, Rio de Janeiro's state league, and the Campeonato... |
43 | 17 | 11 | 15 | 66 | 51 | 15 | |||
| Fluminense Fluminense Football Club Fluminense Football Club is a sports club based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Founded in the beginning of the 20th century as a single-sport institution, Fluminense is today an umbrella organization for several teams in more than 16 different sport activities. The most popular endeavor of Fluminense,... |
46 | 22 | 13 | 11 | 81 | 56 | 25 | |||
| Flamengo | 34 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 66 | 51 | 15 | |||
| G – games played; W - wins; L - losses; D - draws; GF – goals for; GA – goals against; GD – goal differential |
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