Estadio Maracaná de Panamá – stadium description

How was the Estadio Maracaná de Panamá built?

A modest sports complex was built on the site of the current stadium in the early 1970s, including a full-size football pitch and a baseball field. The compound was located near the entrance of the Panama Canal on the Pacific side, close to the Bridge of the Americas (Puente de las Américas), just across the border from the then Panama Canal Zone. The site became known as 'Maracaná' (after the famous Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro).

Between 2013 and 2014, a brand-new stadium was built on the location of the former football pitch. The facility was erected on the occasion of a project to build a new ring road, the so-called Cinta Costera III, and was financed with funds from the government budget. The stadium was designed by local studio SUMA Arquitectos and the main contractor was the Brazilian company Constructora Norberto Odebrecht. The cost of construction of the facility was $8 million. The stadium was officially named 'Maracaná', referring to the previously used colloquial phrase.

When was the Estadio Maracaná de Panamá inaugurated?

The inauguration of the new stadium took place on April 11, 2014, with Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli among others in attendance, and the opening ceremony featured a match between former players from two local teams, Chorrillo FC and CD Plaza Amadora, with former Brazilian national team players Dunga, Bebeto, Rivaldo, Viola, Careca and Ronaldao in attendance.

Who does the Estadio Maracaná de Panamá serve?

The new stadium was to be used mainly by two local football clubs, Chorrillo FC and CD Plaza Amadora. In 2018 Chorrillo FC was reorganised for financial reasons and stopped using the facility. However, the stadium also serves other clubs, including women's teams. It has even hosted occasional games for the country's national team, and in 2017 all but the final (held at Estadio Rommel Fernández) of the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship was played here.

What are the characteristics of the Estadio Maracaná de Panamá?

The venue has been given a football-specific, rectangular layout, with stands located just behind the end lines of the pitch. The stands along the field have two tiers. The auditorium behind the goals is single storey, while the first rows of stands behind the goals are clearly above the level of the pitch (which sits slightly below the level of the surrounding ground). There are no stands in the corners, although they have been enclosed, wrapping the arena into a compact architectural mass. The seats in the stands are red (along the pitch) and blue (behind the goals, where in addition a small number of white seats form the wording "PANAMA").

Each of the four sections of the stands has a canopy with a slightly curved, parabolic shape, although in the stands along the pitch it only covers the upper tier of the auditorium. On the roof above the stands along the pitch, floodlights have been mounted - both at the end edge of the pitch and on an additional six (three on each side), low masts. Two small screens were installed under the canopy of the stands behind the goals. Under the stand behind the north goal are the changing rooms, and on the opposite side are the offices.

The pitch of the facility has been fitted with artificial turf and is located on a north-south axis. Externally, the stands are topped by a facade formed of perforated metal panels in the colours blue, white and red. The external shape of the stands along the pitch is slightly curved, the stands behind the goals maintain a straight line to the outside. The capacity of the stadium is 5500 spectators, making it the second largest (after Estadio Rommel Fernández) football venue in the country.