The Maracana is one of the most culturally and historically important football stadiums in the world, and as it plays host to Fluminense, it has become entwined with the history of the club.
Maracana Fluminense FC History – A Journey Through Time
The stadium was built to host the 1950 World Cup, with construction starting in 1948. While the stadium was able to host some of the World Cup construction was only officially finished in 1965 after it fell well behind schedule. Brazil’s first match there in the World Cup saw 81,00 fans pack in to watch them beat Mexico 4-0. Brazil lost their final, defining game 2-1 to Uruguay to lose the tournament to their rivals, with around 200,000 fans there as witness.
Since then, four Brazilian clubs moved in. Vasco de Gama, Botafogo, Flamengo and Fluminense, with Botafogo no longer using it as their host venue.
In 1969, Santos forward Pele scored his 1000th goal against Vasco, but for Fluminense, they won the Campeonato Brasieiro in 1970, 1984, 2010 and 2012 with their home games at the Maracana, as well as the Copa Libertadores in 2023.
Maracana Fluminense FC Renovation – Shaping the Modern Jewel
In the year 2000, the stadium celebrated its 50th anniversary and renovations took place to move the capacity to 103,000.
The stadium was closed between nine months in 2005 and 2006, and with the stadium ready for business once more in 2007, it boasted an all-seater capacity of 87,000.
Three years later, work started to prepare the venue for the 2014 World Cup and the Olympics and Paralympics due in 2016. The original seating plan with two-tiers was overhauled with a single tier installed, and its concrete roof was placed with a more modern fibreglass construction.
That meant that almost all of the seats were now covered from the rain. New seats were installed to match the yellow, blue and white of the Brazilian flag, with the pitch providing the green.
Maracana Fluminense FC Capacity – A Sea of Red, Green and White
With a capacity of 78,838, fans flock in to sell out the stadium for the biggest events, and draped in the club’s colours of red, green and white, the fans provide constant and passionate support of their team.
Fluminense boast several million fans in Brazil, perhaps as many as eight million, and they are said to be predominantly from the upper classes of Rio de Janeiro. Their support reserves their most intimidating atmospheres for their main rivalries. The Grandpa Derby with Botafogo is named as such as they are Rio’s two oldest clubs, while the Fla-Flu derby is with Flamengo with Fluminense resenting the players who left the club to help form Flamengo. There’s also the Giants’ Derby against Vasco, with the 1984 Campeonato Brasileiro and 1985 Copa Libertadores, contested by the pair.
Where is Maracana Fluminense FC? – Navigating the Heart of Turin
The Maracana is situated in the east of Rio de Janeiro, and can be easily reached by train and metro.
The Maracana stadium is on metro line 2, which can be taken from downtown Rio, as well as the Flamengo and Botafogo areas. Line 1 runs from theeCopacabana and Ipanema areas which require a transfer onto line 2.
A commuter train is also provided from Central do Brasil station, and near the bus terminal.
Address: Rua Professor Eurico Rabelo, s/nº, portão 18, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
Matchday Traditions – Creating Memories at Maracana
Fluminense have some famous songs they bring out at every match, with Eterno Campeao one favourite, a simple Neeeeense! chant, and De Norte A Sul (Sou Tricolor Ate Morrer) another.
Fluminense now have a mosaico, using fans and placards to create a huge red, white and green display, a tifo made by coloured sheets issued across the stadium. Born in the 1940s or even early for a Fla-Flu derby. Confetti, streamers and balloons were given to each fan to launch the tradition in earnest.
As well as that, fans use their surdo drums to lead chants and cheers to drown out the opposition, and use fireworks to spell out Fluminense at the very biggest matches.
Socios.com and Fluminense FC Fan Tokens – The Fan’s Voice
Fluminense Fan Tokens are digital assets that let you turn your support into rewards. As a Fan Token holder, you will get the chance to win once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, unique rewards, and other kinds of prizes that reward your passionate lifelong support for your team. Fan Tokens will let you take part in official club polls, predict results, check-in for games, play games, pick your favourite players and even more, all while earning reward points to help you win Fan Rewards, and perhaps even get them unique access to the Emirates Stadium.
