Brazilian third-tier football club Portuguesa has struck a deal to play home matches at Estádio do Pacaembu while its own venue, Estádio do Canindé, undergoes renovation work.
Portuguesa agreed the deal with Concessionária Allegra Pacaembu, which manages the stadium. The club’s first match at the stadium will be against São Paulo on January 29.
The Pacaembu (pictured), which is officially known as the Mercado Livre Arena Pacaembu, is nearing the end of its own renovation project. Redevelopment work commenced in June 2021.
The stadium has hosted Portuguesa matches in the past and it has also been used by the State of São Paulo’s biggest clubs, including Palmeiras, Corinthians and São Paulo.
The stadium is set to reopen on January 25 with the final of the São Paulo Junior Football Cup, although reports in Brazil claim that the venue does not yet have a permit from the City of São Paulo to stage the event.
Portuguesa has opted to play its home matches at the Pacaembu as the Estádio do Canindé is itself being renovated. The latter venue requires structural upgrades and is set to be unusable for three years.
Estadio do Canindé’s capacity will increase to around 30,000 once the renovation work is finished. Portuguesa has not indicated how long it will use the Pacaembu for.
On match days, the Pacaembu will host a range of entertainment events and commercial activations for Portuguesa fans. The stadium will also be fitted with official Portuguesa kiosks.
Portuguesa president Alex Bourgeois said: “Mercado Livre Arena Pacaembu is home to all residents of São Paulo and is traditionally a second home for Portuguesa. We have already experienced historic moments here, and now we are going to start a new journey of success.
“We will play in the newest stadium in the largest city in Latin America, with a first-class structure, ready to welcome our fans.”
Last September, Santos president Marcelo Teixeira announced that his club would host several matches and other activities at the stadium after renovation work is completed.
In February last year, Allegra Pacaembu agreed deals for São Paulo, Santos and Cruzeiro to play matches at the stadium. A deal was also struck with Four Even, a Brazilian investment fund which specialises in the promotion of concerts and entertainment events.
Allegra Pacaembu assumed management of the stadium complex in January 2020 after being awarded a 35-year contract. Ecommerce company Mercado Livre acquired naming rights to the stadium last year in a deal that could reportedly be worth up to R$1bn (£135m/€159m/$166m), a record for a stadium sponsorship in Brazil.
