Estádio Dr. João Cláudio Vasconcelos Machado, usually known as Machadão, is a multi-purpose stadium

Multi-purpose stadium

Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...

 in the 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...

ian city of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte

Natal, Rio Grande do Norte

-History:The northeastern tip of South America, Cabo São Roque, to the north of Natal and the closest point to Europe from Latin America, was first visited by European navigators in 1501, in the 1501–1502 Portuguese expedition led by Amerigo Vespucci, who named the spot after the saint of the day...

. It is currently used mostly for football

Football (soccer)

Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...

 matches.

Estádio Machadão is owned by the Natal City Hall. The stadium is named after João Cláudio Vasconcelos Machado, who was president of the Rio Grande do Norte Football Federation and sports broadcaster.

Estádio Machadão (along with the Ginasio do Machadindo) is forecasted to be demolished by the end of 2010 to make room for the construction of the Arena das Dunas for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Capacity

The stadium initially had a maximum capacity of 52,000 people. However, its capacity was reduced to 28,000 for security reasons and currently the capacity of the stadium was elevated to 35,000 because it was reformed in the start of 2007 and reinaugurated in May 2007.

History

In 1972, the works on Machadão were completed. The inaugural match was played on July 4 of that year, when ABC

ABC Futebol Clube

ABC Futebol Clube, or ABC, as they are usually called, is a Brazilian football team from Natal in Rio Grande do Norte, founded on June 29, 1915. ABC is the oldest club of Rio Grande do Norte state...

 beat América de Natal

América Futebol Clube (RN)

América Futebol Clube, or América , as they are usually called, is a traditional Brazilian football team from Natal in Rio Grande do Norte, founded on July 14, 1915....

 1-0. The first goal of the stadium was scored by ABC's Willian.

The stadium's attendance record currently stands at 53,320, set on November 29, 1972 when Santos

Santos Futebol Clube

Santos Futebol Clube is a Brazilian professional football club based in Santos, São Paulo They play in the Campeonato Paulista and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the highest professional leagues in São Paulo state and Brazil, respectively....

 beat ABC 2-0.

In 2007, the stadium was reformed. The reinaugural match was played on May 13 of that year, when Vasco

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...

 beat América de Natal 1-0. The first goal of the stadium after the reinauguration was scored by Vasco's player André Dias

André Felippe Seixas Dias

André Felippe Seixas Dias or simply André Dias , is a striker. He currently plays for Villa Nova Atlético Clube.-Honours:*Brazilian League: 2002*South American U-20 Championship 2001*Russian cup 2003 Al Ain FC...

.

Books

• Enciclopédia do Futebol Brasileiro, Volume 2 - Lance, Rio de Janeiro: Aretê Editorial S/A, 2001.

External links

• Templos do Futebol