The stadium’s popular name is derived from the Maracana River, whose point of origin is in the jungle covered hills to the west, crossing various barrios (neighborhoods) of Rio’s Zone Norte (Norte Zone) such as Tijuca and Sao Cristovao via a canal which features sloping sides constructed of concrete.
For the 2014 World cup, a major reconstruction project was accomplished. The original seating bowl, with a two – tier configuration, was demolished, giving way to a new one – tier seating bowl. The new seats are colored yellow, blue and white forming along with the green of the match field, the Brazilian national colors.
In addition, the grayish tone returns as the main façade color of the stadium.
The original stadium’s roof in concrete was demolished membrane coated with Teflon. The new roof will cover 95% of the seats inside the stadium, unlike the former design, where protection was given to some seats in the upper ring and also from the seats of the bleachers above the gate access of each sector.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the stadium, on January 16, 1980, Frank Sinatra performed to a crowd of 180, 000. From January 18 – 27, 1991, the stadium hosted the second edition of Rock in Rio, with Price, Guns N’ Roses, George Michael, INXS, a – ha and New Kids on the Block as headliners. A – ha played for a Guinness World Records record breaking paying audience of 198, 000 people.
