Allianz Parque
Allianz Parque (Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈaljɐ̃s ˈpaʁki] ⓘ), also known as Arena Palmeiras or as Arena Palestra Itália, is a football stadium in Água Branca, São Paulo, Brazil, and the home of Palmeiras. The stadium also serves as a multipurpose arena, and was built to receive concerts and other events besides football matches. The stadium has a capacity of 43,713 spectators for football, and of 55,000 for concerts. At the time of its opening, the stadium had one of the most modern multipurpose spaces in the whole country. The stadium meets all of FIFA's standards, accrediting it to receive the most relevant sports tournaments.
Not to be confused with Allianz Park.Location
200 Rua Palestra Itália
Água Branca
Barra Funda
São Paulo
State of São Paulo
Brazil
WTorre Properties
188
Football: 41,457 (Palmeiras 2–1 Corinthians, 29 April 2023)
Concert: 50,000 Taylor Swift, The Eras Tour, 26 November 2023[1]
105 by 68 metres (114.8 yd × 74.4 yd)
GreenFields MX Elite 50 Artificial Turf[2]
November 2010
2010–2014
19 November 2014
Tomás Taveira, Edo Rocha
WTorre
WTorre
Its construction started in 2010 under the authorship of Portuguese architect Tomás Taveira, and completed in November 2014. The stadium was built by the company WTorre Properties/Arenas, belonging to WTorre Group. The stadium is located on the site previously occupied by Palestra Itália Stadium, also popularly known as Parque Antárctica, Palmeiras's former home ground.
Location[edit]
The stadium is located in the Água Branca neighborhood, within the Barra Funda district, but sits in an intersection region between the neighbourhoods of Água Branca (where it is properly located), Barra Funda, Pompeia and Perdizes, in the west zone of the city of São Paulo. Near the stadium, there is the Palmeiras–Barra Funda Metro Station at 1.5 km of distance, the Água Branca Metropolitan Train Station and several bus lines, totaling 50 different routes.
For drivers, parking service is adjacent to the Allianz Parque, with capacity for 2,000 cars, plus 4,800 parking spaces in two malls located nearby. The complex is situated only 4 km from Paulista Avenue and 5 km from Central Zone of São Paulo. Besides, there are 9 5-star hotels in a radius of 6 km, more than 8,000 hospitalar beds at a distance of 5 km, apart from Congonhas Airport and Guarulhos Airport, at 13 and 30 km of distance, respectively.
Accessibility[edit]
According to the builder, in the arena there are 889 spaces for wheelchair users, 778 seats for the handicapped, 122 seats for obese, 63 accessible bathrooms distributed in all sectors: lower and upper stands and cabins. Furthermore, there are 15 elevators, 26 escalators, ramps and special box office. In the parking lot, there are forty-nine vacancies for people with special needs (PSN) located near to the elevators and 78 places for the elderly. Thus, the adjustments exceed the recommendations of the Brazilian standard and also FIFA.
In June 2017, the arena was the first in Brazil to be qualified by its architectural accessibility, receiving the "Selo guiaderodas" award, which evaluates premises and services for people with mobility issues. The qualification was based in analyses by specialized architects, practical tests by people with mobility issues and capacitation training for the staff of the stadium and the club.[64][65][66]
Allianz Parque Tour[edit]
On March 18, 2015, was inaugurated the "Allianz Parque Tour", which offers a guide service to the public with a trained Arena guide.[77] In partnership with Futebol Tour company, the service offers a narrative journey through exclusive areas of the stadium, such as press boxes, cabins, convention center, press conference area, dressing rooms and field of play. The tour is available from Wednesday to Sunday (except on game days, other events or holidays) and lasts approximately one hour.[78]
Controversies[edit]
Delays in opening[edit]
Initially planned to be opened in late 2012, the Allianz Parque has suffered from delays due to bureaucracy and construction challenges.[79] The first deadline for finalizing the works was in the first half of 2013, then for the second half of that year, for February of the following year, and finally for the second half of 2014, when the works were completed.[80]
Accidents and alleged irregularities[edit]
In April 2013, the collapse of three beams in the Arena works left one person dead and another injured. The accident happened where the new grandstand was built on the old structure of the Palestra Italia Stadium.[81]
The beams collapse occurred at the same time in which the prosecution attempted to impound the works. The prosecutors questioned, besides the environmental degradation and traffic impacts, if the work was a renovation or a new construction, because the permit Palmeiras had since 2002 was for renovation, not demolition. It was precisely for this reason that the grandstands were not demolished, the same local where the worker died in 2013.[82]
Discussion between Palmeiras and WTorre[edit]
In February 2014, Palmeiras attempted to resolve an impasse with WTorre at the FGV Chamber of Conciliation and Arbitration. The main cause of disagreement between the club and the company is the division of seats in the Allianz Parque. WTorre claims to have the right to sell 100% of the seats, while Palmeiras claims that the contract set a maximum number of ten thousand seats to be sold by the builder. However, there is no discussion as to the amounts to be collected from the box office, which are 100% of the club, but today the marketing impasse to sell the seats is still being discussed.[83]
