StadiumDBEstádio do Dragão
| Capacity | 50 033 |
|---|---|
| 1176 (Business seats) | |
| 194 (Press setas) | |
| 104 (Disabled seats) | |
| Country | Portugal |
| City | Porto |
| Clubs | FC Porto |
| Floodlights | 1,600 lux |
| Inauguration | 16/11/2003 (FC Porto - FC Barcelona 2-0) |
| Record attendance | 52,004 (FC Porto - FC Barcelona, 16/11/2003) |
| Cost | € 125 million |
| Design | Manuel Salgado |
| Contractor | Amorim, Somague, Ballast-Nedam |
Advertisement
Estádio do Dragão – stadium description
Successor of the famous Das Antas didn't carry the same name, though it was among the options discussed before opening. Eventually Estádio do Dragão (Dragon Stadium) won the vote, celebrating the creature from FC Porto's crest. The club had arguments for it, being the major investor of the building. Of €98m invested, only €18,5m was subsided by the government ahead of Euro 2004.
Construction brough tensions between Porto's mayor and club president, resulting in works being halted several times. Still, the contractors managed to deliver it on time, 7 months before Euro 2004. Inaugural game between FC Porto and Barcelona brought a record crowd, unbeaten to this day and even higher than the capacity, a number rarely seen in modern venues.
During Euro 2004 the opening game took place here, as well as three group fixtures and one semifinal.
Advertisement
Pictures
-
10.06.2008 © Emanuel Rocha 
22.12.2009 © Emanuel Rocha 
16.05.2015 © CaGeRaGe (cc: by-sa) 
05.02.2010 © António Amen (cc: by-sa) 
28.08.2014 © Mariska van der Kolk 
03.02.2013 © Diego Bonacina (cc: by-nc-sa) 
12.04.2015 © Peter Surovcik (cc: by) 
17.05.2008 © Santi Villamarín (cc: by-nd) 
12.09.2011 © Валерий Дед (cc: by) 
12.09.2011 © Валерий Дед (cc: by) 
04.04.2016 © Jose A. (cc: by) 
12.09.2011 © Валерий Дед (cc: by) 
04.04.2016 © Jose A. (cc: by) 
17.03.2018 © Patrick Hendriksen 
17.03.2018 © Patrick Hendriksen 
12.09.2011 © Валерий Дед (cc: by) 
12.05.2017 © A Travelling Jack 
12.05.2017 © A Travelling Jack 
12.05.2017 © A Travelling Jack 
12.05.2017 © A Travelling Jack 
12.05.2017 © A Travelling Jack 
13.03.2010 © Ângela Antunes (cc: by) 
28.08.2014 © Mariska van der Kolk
Related news
2023
2022
-
Portugal: FC Porto stadium may change its name
It will soon be 20 years since the inauguration of Estadio do Dragao. Back then - before Euro 2004 - a bumpy road led to completion of the venue. Now, the authorities of the coastal club are considering the sale of the naming rights of the famous Dragon Stadium.
-
World Cup 2030: Ukraine joins Spain and Portugal's bid
It is now official. Ukraine is to complete the Iberian countries' aspiration to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The heads of the three national federations made the announcement at a press conference at UEFA headquarters in Nyon. The selection of the 2030 World Cup host will take place at the 74th FIFA Congress in 2024.
2021
-
Portugal: 18 years since Estádio do Dragão and Messi’s debut
November 16, 2003, is a unique date for the world of football. Leo Messi made his debut for Barcelona's first team at brand new Estádio do Dragão which is celebrating its 18th anniversary today.
-
2030 World Cup: Spain and Portugal confirm aspirations
On Friday they met for a friendly game. No goals were scored on the field but the greater goal was confirming the readiness to host the 2030 World Cup in Spain and Portugal.
-
Champions League final: Not Atatürk, not Wembley, it’s Porto’s game
Despite UEFA’s primary claim of doing it for fans, the final is being moved in the interest of sponsors. Portugal was selected as the best option after London, which refused to waive quarantine for commercial partners.
-
Portugal: Estádio do Dragão to become color-blind friendly
The Portuguese stadium will soon become the world's first to include special signage explaining colors to color-blind people. Because the problem is particularly a male issue, it seems very fitting to introduce the signage at a stadium.
2020
-
COVID-19 crisis: Porto and Chelsea step up
More and more entities are showing solidarity with those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. To ease the tension of medical personnel, FC Porto and Chelsea open their stadiums to doctors and nurses.
-
Portugal: Tax inspectors enter top stadiums
Over 100 inspectors on the ground and nearly 200 army military fiscal inspectors on Wednesday entered Portugal's most important stadiums in the country's largest football financial scandal.
2018
2016
2015
-
Porto: Season ticket? On a smartwatch
It’s expected to be one of the most comfortable ways of entering a stadium. FC Porto offers fans season ticket as a simple QR code carried on any modern device.
-
10+ Ranking 2015: Attendances in Europe (Part 2. The Clubs)
Borussia, Barca and Man United – lovely dominant trio. But it wasn’t them who gained most fans last season. Check all 217 clubs that draw an average crowd of 10,000+!
2014
-
10+ Ranking: Here are the best European clubs by attendance
There are 229 clubs in Europe enjoying on average 10,000 spectators and more. We list all of them to show the Continent’s most magnetic teams. Some fanbases really deserve praise for their participation, right Rangers/Portsmouth?
-
Euro 2020: Croatia, Poland and Portugal also withdraw
Further three countries decided to cancel their bids to host Euro 2020. Each for a different reason and each changing the Euro’s potential landscape.
2013
-
Euro 2020: All you need to know about interested countries
Or, in other words, all we were able to find digging a lot deeper than just the brief info released by UEFA. It took us a while, but this is – according to our knowledge – the most comprehensive analysis of Euro 2020 potential bids.
-
Euro 2020: Confirmed candidates list
Despite UEFA approving bids of up to two stadia per country, most national federations across Europe only expressed interest to host Euro 2020 at one stadium. Here's the list of all confirmed bids.
