The Maracana

The Maracana Stadium is one of the iconic structures in world football. Built in the 1950s for serving as the flagship destination for the World Cup, the Maracana has become a name synonymous with Brazilian football. It is also regarded as one of the largest stadiums. Even though safety regulations has reduced the overall capacity quite significantly from its initial years, the Maracana stadium still holds a record for having witnessed more than 173,000 spectators during the 1950 World Cup final. There are even reports that more than 200,000 were packed into the stadium on an unofficial count with many managing to enter without a ticket.

Now, the Maracana Stadium still lives up to the grandeur and immense scale even after several modifications with most recent coming in for the 2014 World Cup games. Also known as the Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, this ground is also home to Brazilian teams Flamengo and Fluminense apart from hosting matches involving the Brazilian national team.

Even though the ground is quite old after having been constructed more than five decades ago, the several renovation works that have been carried out in recent years have brought about a major change. Now, the Maracana stadium is not only in line with the modern facilities when it comes to features, but it also sets an example for future stadiums with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification amongst many other plaudits.

Pubs for Away Fans

The location for the Maracana stadium is in a residential area. This part of Rio de Janeiro is not regarded as one of the exclusive destinations. As a result, fans will have little options when they head to the stadium on match days. It is better to look for eating and drinking options in other places that are favourite by tourists. There are many restaurants scattered throughout Rio de Janeiro that can be considered by visiting supporters.

Unlike in many football stadiums around the globe, the Maracana is quite relaxed when it comes to its approach for drinking within the premises. A ticket holder is allowed to drink beer inside the stadium. There are also a ton of options to pick up beer in the ground, but these can end up being slightly more expensive than the prices charged outside the ground. Even though drinking is allowed inside the ground, fans are not allowed to bring outside food.

Maracana Stadium can be quite intimidating with its huge capacity and size. The renovation work that was recently carried out for the World Cup 2014 has brought about a lot of modern amenities to the ground. Still, it is quite different compared to many of the large stadiums in Europe. This is apparent from the way in which the seating gradually slopes rather than being abrupt like at the Santiago Bernabeu or Camp Nou. The seating preference will depend on the type of experience that a fan wants. The west end of the stadium is a great option for those who want to sit down calmly and enjoy the match. For those who want to be among the more vocal supporters, the north and south sections is a better pick. There are dedicated places near the goals that are far more vocal than any other section of the ground.

One can expect a ton of cheering, drums, shouting, and singing during the game. It is certainly not a quiet affair when a match is held at this stadium. The atmosphere can become very contagious and it is filled with a lot of energy. Following the end of the game, a huge volume of fans will head to the subway or the nearby bar before heading home. Compared to other countries like the United Kingdom where a pre-match drink is the ritual, Brazilians like to go with a post-match drink.

This is a ground with a huge amount of history with the national team playing on this stadium for more than 100 times. The stadium has also been able to host many other events apart from football.

How to get there by car & Where to park?

The Maracana stadium is located in the northern part of the city. This makes it a lot easier to reach the ground by car. For those who want to drive on a matchday, be prepared for a lot of traffic. Hence, it is better to start early and at least 30 minutes before the game starts. From downtown Rio, the ground is about 5 km. For those trying to get from the Ipanema and Copacabana beach area, this ground is about 12 km. The satnav address that needs to be entered is:

Rua Professor Eurico Rabelo, s/nº, portão 18, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro

After getting to the stadium, fans will find that there is a decent quality of parking spaces available. As a result of being renovated for hosting the World Cup, the organisers had to bring in several parking spaces to meet the FIFA regulations. Thus, the Maracana stadium in its modern version comes with more than 250 parking spots.

By train or metro

The train or metro is a significantly better option for those who want to get to the Maracana stadium without a lot of stress. The ground is located in the metro line 2, which can be reached from Botafogo, Flamengo, or downtown Rio without any issues. For those who want to head from the Ipanema and Copacabana beach areas, the Metro line 1 has to be used before making the transfer. The commuter train is an alternative and it runs from the Central do Brasil railway station. This commuter train is a better alternative for those who are using the central bus terminal or from near the station. The red Ramal Deodoro line has to be used before getting off at the Maracana stadium.

The Maracanã Multimodal Station is the key destination for those who are travelling to the ground via public transport. Aside from the renovation work carried out on the stadium, plenty of new facilities were also brought to this station. It now has clear definitions for the train platforms, footbridges, and mezzanine. There is also a light roof that helps improve the ambience of the station.

The ticket prices will vary widely depending on the contest, opponent, and time of the year. Since domestic and international matches are held at this ground, it is important to assess the prices for both. For someone who wants to get tickets to a Fluminense or Flamengo match, the online ticket sales would be just a few days before the start of an event. For those who want to watch Flamengo in action, one can expect to pay around BR$100 for one of the upper section tickets, while a VIP seating area could cost around BR$350.

Since Flamengo also play at other grounds in Rio, it is important to check the availability of matches. Similarly, Fluminense tickets for matches at the Maracana stadium can also be picked up online. It is possible that identity verification may be required to pick up tickets, which are usually priced at around BR$60 for the cheapest options. Just like Flamengo, Fluminense also play their home matches in different stadiums across Rio. It is essential to check the schedule before deciding to purchase tickets.

It is imperative that fans pick up tickets for any matches involving the Brazilian national team well ahead in advance. The overwhelming popularity of Brazil means that the tickets end up selling much faster than expected. This may put a huge dent on the plans to visit the Maracana stadium. One can expect to pay slightly higher figures for watching the national team play on this ground. It is also highly likely that a game involving Brazil will be a sell-out. Some lucky fans will be able to pick up tickets even just outside the ground from other fans, but a premium may be involved.

Mundo Rubro Negro (Flamengo)

Net Flu (Fluminense)

Brazil Footy (Brazil)

Uruguay and Argentina (Brazil)

Botafogo, Fluminense, and Vasco da Gama (Flamengo)

Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, and Botafogo (Fluminense)

There has been a sizable improvement in the support for disabled fans in Brazil since the World Cup 2014. During the major infrastructure upgrade across the country, many facilities were brought to fore. Specifically about the Maracana stadium, these facilities make it easier for fans with special abilities to visit the ground and enjoy a game of football – or any other event – with ease. The numerous facilities that have been brought into this iconic stadium include companion seating, spacious lifts, accessible toilets, and more. Since the metro station is also located next to the stadium, it is easy to get off the metro and reach the ground. A similar set of accessible facilities are available in the metro station as well.

Any fan will be able to get a closer look at the Maracana Stadium. There are many guided tours available or fans can also make use of the self-guided tours. Typically, a fan who visits the Maracana stadium on days other than a matchday will be able to look at all the facilities available at the ground for a fee. You will get access to the dressing rooms that hosted some of the famous football players can be visited by fans. Stadium tour also provides access to the press room, VIP box, and other facilities of the ground.

Some of the unofficial stadium tours will also provide the ability to get hotel pick up and drop off, which completely takes away the stress of having to navigate through Rio de Janeiro – one of the largest cities in the South American continent. For a premium guided tour, one can expect to pay around the $60 for an adult ticket and $30 for a child to be part of the tour. It is quite common for children less than five years old to be allowed for free. The tour lasts for around 90 minutes and this will go access to all facilities of the ground.

Apart from getting access to the ground using these tours, fans will also be able to take home a portion of the Maracana with souvenirs that are sold outside the ground. These are usually sold by vendors just outside the gates. There are a ton of options to get football jerseys. Since these are not official, they can be picked up for a small change. However, any buyer would have to be prepared to accept a lower quality than official gear.

Record Attendance

Uruguay v Brazil in 1950: 199,854

Average Attendance

2019-2020: 21,494 (Fluminense – Brazilian Serie A) & 58,992 (Flamengo – Brazilian Serie A)

2018-2019: 15,170 (Fluminense – Brazilian Serie A) & 50,872 (Flamengo – Brazilian Serie A)

2017-2018: 14,950 (Fluminense – Brazilian Serie A) & 16,570 (Flamengo – Brazilian Serie A)