Arena Gremio ( port. Arena do Grêmio , Arena do Gremio ) is a multi-functional stadium located in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre and is the home arena of the football club Gremio . It was opened on December 8, 2012 with a concert and a friendly match against the German club Hamburg . Gremio won with a score of 2: 1, repeating the result of 1983 , when the clubs met each other in the final of the Intercontinental Cup.
| Gremio Arena | |
|---|---|
 | |
| original name | port. Arena do grêmio |
| Location | Porto Alegre , Rio Grande do Sul , Brazil |
| Pledged | 2010 year |
| Built | year 2012 |
| Open | December 8, 2012 |
| Architect | Antonio Monteiro, Pedro Santos (PLARQ - Atelier de Arquitetura Multidisciplinar) |
| Owner | |
| Developer | |
| Capacity | 60 540 viewers |
| Home team | Gremio |
| Field dimensions | 105 x 68 meters |
| Coating | Grass |
| Site | |
History
Background
In the mid-2000s, the leadership of Gremio came up with the idea of building a new stadium that would host matches of the “three-color”. The idea was realized in 2006, when the possibility of construction was technically justified. The goal was to build a completely independent stadium, in contrast to the then Olympic Monumental . In May 2006, the president of Gremio developed a plan, and he formally led the project [1] . In those days, a discussion began on the construction site - either it would be on the site of the current Olimpico, or in a new place. In November 2006, in order to resolve this issue, a preliminary feasibility study was conducted with the Dutch company Amsterdam Advisory Arena on the possibility of building a new stadium. It was concluded that Olimpiko will not be able to meet the club’s expectations because of the high cost of maintenance, age of construction, low level of comfort, safety and services, insufficient parking spaces and location in a populated area [1] . The combination of these factors forced the club to lean towards the construction of the arena, with financial support from partners meeting the requirements of FIFA [2] .
Construction Preparation
In 2007, in order to attract companies to the project, a letter was prepared for interested parties [1] . The only interested in this proposal were the construction companies OAS and Odebrecht. The former proposed a consortium with TBZ , the owner of the stadiums. Within twenty years, 65% of revenues will go to the development of the Gremio Stadium, and the remaining 35% to the consortium. The second agreed with the condition that the profit will go to each side. In March 2008, the OAS proposal was selected. Some time before, the developer violated the partnership conditions with TBZ [3] [4] . Guarantees for continued financing of the construction were given by Efisa , which was later replaced by Banco Santander [4] . In the construction of the arena, OAS continued to collaborate with four partners, with the exception of TBZ , which was declared bankrupt: Veirano Advogados , Banco Santander , Plarq Arquitetura and Gismarket [1] . December 18, 2008 OAS signed a contract with Gremio for the construction of the arena [3] .
Due to the impossibility of creating a financially attractive place in the Olimpico stadium, land in the vicinity of Umaita in Porto Alegre was chosen as the site for the construction of the arena. On December 17, 2008, the Gremio Advisory Board approved the signing of a contract with OAS and the official start of construction.
To continue the project, a special commission was created in the club structure. Initially, it included seven representatives of the club - Adalberto Preis (head of the commission), Paulo Odone, Alexandre Granden, Teodoro Pedrotti, Saul Berdichevsky, Mauro Kneinik and Peter Streets. In September 2010, the members were Adalberto Preis, Evandro Krebs, Geraldo Nogueira da Gama, Mauro Krajinik, Pedro Ruas, Saul Berdichevsky and Teodoro Pedrotti. Only on August 24, 2010, she was recognized as a company by the Rio Grande do Sul State Trade Council, thereby making her activity legal. Her goal was to regulate and continue the process. However, Paulo Odone left the group in February 2009, saying that he was “leaving” and that “they (he and the rest of the commission) are taking the brunt”. According to Odone, when he was still the president of the club, “Arena will be the best stadium in the world”, as it exceeds the standard requirements of FIFA and UEFA for five-star stadiums.
The project was approved on December 29, 2008 in the City Council of Porto Alegre in accordance with the general plan of the city. In October 2009, the area of the Arena, acquired for 50 million reais , was increased. Construction, however, began after the permission of the city hall.
According to Adalberto Preis, Arena’s financing will consist of 55% of OAS’s capital, and 45% will be paid within seven years. The manager of the company, whose main shareholder is Gremio, will take care of the revenues received from the Arena (with the exception of those received from advertising) and pay for financing. OAS , which has the smallest share, will jointly manage it. Within seven years of financing, the club will receive eight million reais , which will be adjusted annually. After seven years, the club will receive sixteen million reais per year. And still, according to Price, the remaining financial operations will be controlled by the management of Gremio.
Financial partners will have the right to watch the games at the Arena in the same way as they did at the Olympic Monumental, according to the September 2010 Zero Hora newspaper. However, reporter Diego Olivier said in December 2009 that the partners had to pay the invitation, like other club fans, in addition to the monthly fee. However, Adalberto Preis said: “Today, members pay a monthly fee, enter the club of fans who attend Olimpico, and Gremio pays this fee. Why can't this go on at the Arena ?. Here the club will pay for itself, and the costs will be deducted to the management company. This is a matter of coordination, balance, which the club management will follow, and such is the club’s decision. ”
According to Adalberto Preis, by August 2010 there was only a lack of a license from the city hall to start work. The chairman of the Stadium Construction Commission estimated that work would begin that same month. Even taking into account Price’s forecast, the construction of a new stadium was not officially launched until September 20.
Start of work
In October 2009, the construction site was fenced. On May 13, 2010, the flagpole with the Gremio flag was raised above the site.
The official start of work took place on September 20, 2010 after the convoy left the territory of the Olympic Monumental stadium. On the same day, during the launch ceremony, Hugo de Leon planted a piece of grass from Olimpico in the Arena after it was delivered by helicopter.
At the end of February 2011, about three hundred workers ceased their activities, demanding higher wages, better working conditions and housing to be released to visit their families - many of them were from the north-east of the country - and longer vacations.
On March 9, 2011, OAS officials who participated in the February 24 strike and won the vote accepted the contractor's offer and decided to return to work.
Advanced
At a meeting held on August 29, 2011, the Gremio Advisory Board approved an amendment to the contract for the construction of the Arena between the club and OAS . More than 200 observers attended the meeting, where it was decided to increase the capacity of the Arena, which grew from 54,000 to 60,500 spectators, increasing work costs by 65 million reais and the possible proceeds from ticket sales within the first seven years of the opening of the stadium.
Design
Two screens are installed on the screen, the distance between the seats for spectators and the side line is 10 meters, the capacity is 60 540 spectators, the stands have the maximum tilt allowed by FIFA, which implies the possibility of their expansion in the future. All stands are equipped with visors and seats. Spectator seats are divided into four classes: cheap with seats (bottom), medium with seats (gold seats), on average, expensive with booths (VIP sectors), and also the most expensive with seats (top). The stands that are closest to the field are 10 meters away, in contrast to 40.7 meters at the Olympic Monumental.
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 Apresentação da Arena . www.gremio.net (February 10, 2009). Archived on May 31, 2013.
- ↑ Zero Hora Magazine. September 20, 2010. No. 16.453 - 2nd edition.
- ↑ 1 2 Zero Hora Magazine. Nº 16.434 - 2nd edition. 09/01/2010. p. 56
- ↑ 1 2 Arena do Grêmio conta com TBZ e construtora OAS . Sport Marketing (March 31, 2008). Archived on May 31, 2013.