Around The Grounds: New Maracana Stadium, Rio De Janeiro

Chris Wright

31st, May 2013

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By Chris Wright

With England now finally cleared to play there on Sunday evening in a game designed solely to show off Brazil’s new national stadium ahead of the 2014 World Cup, we thought we’d dedicate this week’s “Around the Grounds” photo essay to the new Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

After part of an upper tier stand collapsed and killed three people in 1992, the Maracana was converted to an all-seater stadium, paring down it’s previously vast capacity to a more demure 78,838. However, the all-time record attendance at the “old” Maracana was a scarcely believable 199,854 at the 1950 World Cup Final – and that’s only accounting for the people who actually paid to get in!

It’s cost an absolute arm and a leg but the stadium has finally been renovated completely (preparatory work initially started way back in 2000) for the upcoming World Cup – sadly the peculiar moat around the perimeter of the pitch is no more – and while it may or may not be entirely safe yet, it sure looks purdy, especially from the air…

Brazil Maracana

Brazil Soccer WCup 2014

Brazil Soccer WCup 2014

Brazil Soccer WCup 2014

Brazil Maracana Reopening

Brazil Indian Museum Battle

Brazil Soccer WCup 2014

Brazil Soccer Security Drill

Brazil Soccer Security Drill

Brazil Maracana

Brazil The Changing Game

Brazil Maracana

Here’s a few shots of the old Maracana in all its ragged glory…

WORLD CUP FINAL 1950 LON

Soccer World Cup 1950 Brazil

Soccer - Estadio do Maracana

Brazilian Soccer - Vasco de Gama v Botafogo

BRAZILIAN SOCCER

A true temple of football.

(Photos: PA)

More in Pies’ Around The Grounds series…

Griffin Park, Brentford
De Kuip, Feyenoord

Upton Park, West Ham

San Mames, Athletic Bilbao

FC Gspon’s Ottmar Hitzfeld Stadium, The Highest Pitch In Europe

Valley Parade, Bradford City
Prenton Park, Tranmere
Wankdorf, Young Boys

Estadio Municipal, SC Braga

Home Park, Plymouth Argyle

Victoria Park, Hartlepool United
Bloomfield Road, Blackpool
Ninian Park, Cardiff City
Wankdorf Stadium, Young Boys
Portman Road, Ipswich Town
Recreation Ground, Aldershot
Saltergate, Former Home Of Chesterfield