10 anos: 12 curiosidades sobre a Arena Corinthians
The Arena Corinthians, now known as Neo Química Arena, celebrates its tenth anniversary since its first official game this Saturday (18). The first match was not the best for Corinthians, with a 1-0 defeat to Figueirense, goal scored by Giovanni Augusto, who would later play for the club in 2016.
Below are a series of curiosities about the stadium in these ten years, ranging from real estate speculation to records on the field. Check it out:
Games from major competitions
The Arena Corinthians hosted games from the 2014 World Cup, including the opening match between Brazil and Croatia, as well as games from the 2016 Olympics and the 2019 Copa America.
Naming rights saga
Since the official inauguration of the stadium in 2014, Corinthians took six years to close the naming rights deal. In 2020, the pharmaceutical company Hypera Pharma agreed to pay R$ 300 million for the name Neo Química Arena, valid until 2040.
Initial cost escalation
Originally budgeted at R$ 930 million by Odebrecht, the total updated cost of the stadium, including interest, was around R$ 1.64 billion.
Almost 200 victories for Corinthians
Since the last game against Argentinos Juniors in the Copa Sudamericana, Corinthians has played 338 games at the Arena, with 196 wins, 94 draws, and 48 losses, scoring 532 goals and conceding 253.
Most capped player
The player with the most appearances at the Neo Química Arena was goalkeeper Cássio, with a total of 289 games played.
Top scorers
The leading scorer at the Arena is currently in the squad, Paraguayan Angel Romero, with 32 goals. Following him are Roger Guedes (31), Jô (30), Jadson (24), and Yuri Alberto (24) completing the top 5. The latter might challenge Romero for the lead, as he is also in the team.
Highest attendance in history
The final match of the 2014 World Cup at Arena Corinthians set the stadium’s attendance record, with 63,267 paying spectators watching Argentina vs. Netherlands in the semi-final. In the first leg of the 2023 Copa do Brasil semi-final against São Paulo, Corinthians recorded their highest attendance as hosts at the Arena: 46,517 fans witnessed the 2-1 victory, with two goals from Renato Augusto.
Corinthians titles
In 2015, with a 6-1 thrashing of São Paulo, Corinthians won their first title at the stadium, the Brazilian Championship. There were also two other trophies lifted at Neo Química Arena, the 2017 and 2019 Paulista Championships.
Real estate inflation
The number of residential real estate launches in Itaquera and neighboring areas tripled since the stadium’s launch. From 768 units in 2014 to 2,247 units in the last year. The square meter price also significantly increased from R$ 5,249 to R$ 7,125.
Commercial growth
The City Hall reports a 28% increase in the number of businesses in the districts of Itaquera, Parque do Carmo, José Bonifácio, Cidade Líder, and Artur Alvim, neighboring the stadium, in the last ten years.
Major achievements in women’s soccer
In 2023, Corinthians won the quadruple crown, with trophies from the Supercopa, Brasileirão, Libertadores, and Paulista. Within the Neo Química Arena, the Corinthians women won four Brazilian Championships (2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023), three Supercopas do Brasil (2022, 2023, and 2024), and three Paulista Championships (2019, 2021, and 2023).
Largest attendance for a women’s club soccer game in South America
In the 2023 Brazilian Championship final against Ferroviária, Corinthians attracted 42,556 fans to the stadium, setting a South American record for attendance at a women’s soccer match. The 2-1 victory secured the club’s fifth Brazilian women’s title.
