Estádio Vila Belmiro

Full name	Estádio Urbano Caldeira
Location	Santos, Brazil
Built	1916
Opened	October 12, 1916
Owner	Santos
Capacity	20,120
Tenants
Santos Santos (ladies)

Estádio Urbano Caldeira, also known as Estádio Vila Belmiro, is a football stadium inaugurated on October 12, 1916 in Santos, São Paulo, Brazil. It has a maximum capacity of 20,120 people. Santos Futebol Clube owns the stadium. Its formal name honors Urbano Caldeira, former player, manager and chairman of Santos.

[edit] History

The inauguration of the stadium took place on October 12, 1916. For many years Vila Belmiro became Pelé's most important place where he demonstrated his skills. On November 21, 1964, at Vila Belmiro, Pelé scored eight goals against Botafogo (SP), when Santos beat the opposing squad 11-0. On October 2, 1974, Pelé played his farewell match at the stadium. In that match, Santos beat Ponte Preta 2-0.

In 1964, part of the stadium bleachers collapsed, resulting in 181 injured spectators.

The inaugural match took place on October 12, 1916, when Santos beat Ipiranga, 2-1. Adolfo Millon Jr scored the first goal of the stadium.

At 20 o'clock on March 21, 1931 the light system has been inaugurated, during a game between Santos FC and Santos City All-Stars that Santos FC won by 1-0.

During the 1996 Paulista Championship, the stadium has been closed because the pitch was in very bad conditions. During this time Santos FC played in many stadiums, like Bruno José Daniel in Santo André or Pacaembú Stadium in São Paulo.

After that, the stadium grass has been changed to a field with a modern irrigation system that made the Vila Belmiro pitch one of the bests in Brazil.

On January 27, 1998, during a game between Santos FC and Palmeiras a new illumination system has been inaugurated, with a illumnination level of 1200 lux, more than FIFA minimum recomendation.

On November 17, 2003, Santos FC inaugurated Memorial das Conquistas Milton Teixeira, a place, inside the stadium with the club memorial, containing trophies, medals, documents, shirts, posters, movies and many other things that tell the visitors the club history. Also, the visitors can enter the team clockroom, press room and the pitch, and, in the end of the view they can buy club products in a Umbro Store, inside the stadium.

In 2009, the new eletronic scoreboard has been inaugurated, becoming the staudium with the most modern scoreoard in Brazil.

The stadium's attendance record currently stands at 32,989, set on September 20, 1964 when Santos and Corinthians drew 0-0.

[edit] References

• Enciclopédia do Futebol Brasileiro, Volume 2 - Lance, Rio de Janeiro: Aretê Editorial S/A, 2001.

[edit] External links

• Templos do Futebol (Portuguese)
• Santos FC Official Website (Portuguese)

Coordinates: 23°57′4.08″S 46°20′20.56″W / 23.9511333°S 46.3390444°W / -23.9511333; -46.3390444

v • d • e Campeonato Brasileiro Série A venues, 2009 Aflitos • Arena da Baixada • Arena Barueri • Barradão • Beira-Rio • Bruno José Daniel • Couto Pereira • Ilha do Retiro • João Havelange • Maracanã • Mineirão • Morumbi • Olímpico • Pacaembu • Palestra Itália • Ressacada  • Serra Dourada • Vila Belmiro

v • d • e Santos Futebol Clube Information Men's club · Women's club · Players · Head coaches · Men's honors · Women's honors Home Stadium Vila Belmiro Rivalries San-São · Clássico Alvinegro · Derby Santista · Clássico da Saudade Others Matches ·  · All articles