Arena da Baixada

Arena Joaquim Américo Guimarães is the home stadium of Clube Atlético Paranaense. It is located in Curitiba, the state capital of Paraná, Brazil. Known as Arena da Baixada, the soccer stadium was the first in Brazil to sell its naming rights. It was known as Kyocera Arena between 2005 and April 1, 2008. Additionally, the stadium is perhaps best known for being the first retractable roof stadium in South America. With Curitiba selected as one of the host cities of World Cup 2014, the arena between 2012 and 2014 was rebuilt. Its capacity was expanded to 41,456 seats.Located in the Água Verde near the center of Curitiba, the history of the athletic stadium began in the early twentieth century, when in 1914, Joaquim Américo Guimarães, then president of the International (the forefathers of Atlético Paranaense Club), led the construction of the then Green Water Baixada stadium. Atletico came into existence ten years later, inheriting the assets, including the stadium.HistoryThe stadium was built at the previous location of a Brazilian Army powder depot. In 1934, the stadium was renamed Estádio Joaquim Américo Guimarães. In the 1970s, the original stadium was closed down. After being reopened in 1984 and operating for some years, the old stadium building was demolished on March 26, 1997, right after a construction project of a new arena was announced. In June 1999, the new stadium was built. In 2005, the stadium was renamed Kyocera Arena, after the Japanese company Kyocera purchased the naming rights.