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Estádio do Dragăo (English: Dragon Stadium) is a football stadium in Porto, Portugal that has an all-seated capacity of 50,948.
The stadium was built as a replacement for FC Porto's old ground, Estadio das Antas, and as a venue for EURO 2004. It was completed in 2003, some months after what was expected since in the February 2001, Porto mayor Rui Rio changed the estate distribution plans, forcing the chairman of FC Porto Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa to halt all building operations, which were only resumed after a consensus was agreed. As requested by UEFA, the old stadium was demolished, and the space used for the media during the Euro 2004, and in the following months, the contruction of the buildings that will form the new urban settlement called "Cidade das Antas" (City of Antas) progressively started.
Designed by Manuel Salgado and built by the Grupo Amorim, it cost €97.755.318, of which €18.430.956 was supported by the Portuguese taxpayers. To support costs, each stand carries one or two sponsor names, Continental for the South (Sul) end, Vodafone and Império Bonança in the East (Nascente) stand, PT and Nike for the West (Poente) stand and finally Coca-Cola in the North (Norte) Stand. Away fans are placed in the left corner of the North stand, while FC Porto supporter groups (SuperDragőes and Colectivo Ultras 95) are one on each top, although initially both groups were in the South stand.
The stadium's name is derived from the presence of a dragon on the crest of FC Porto, which is composed of an old football under the old crest of the City of Porto. It is also the nickname of FC Porto fans. Other alternatives were considered, such as Estádio das Antas (officially, unlike the former stadium) or named after Artur de Sousa Pinga, José Maria Pedroto (former players and managers) or Pinto da Costa (running president for over 20 years).
Inaugurated in 16 November 2003 against FC Barcelona, FC Porto won 2-0 with goals by Derlei and Hugo Almeida. However, due to severe turf problems, FC Porto was forced to play in the Estádio das Antas, until the turf was replanted by mid February 2004.
External links
- Pictures of the stadium completed and during construction (http://www.portugal2004.pt/en_estadios/estadio_dragao_intro.html)de:Drachenstadion