The Arena da Baixada, also referred to as Arena CAP, got built in the late 1990s in place of Atlético’s old Estádio Joaquim Américo Guimarães. It officially opened on the 20th of June 1999 and was considered one of the most modern stadiums of Latin America at that time.
The stadium could initially hold about 30,000 spectators and was temporarily renamed Kyocera Arena in the mid 2000s following a naming rights deal.
In 2009, the Arena da Baixada got selected as one of the playing venues of the 2014 World Cup, and despite having been opened only a decade earlier, had to undergo a thorough redevelopment to comply with FIFA requirements.
Building works started late 2011, but delays meant that the expected reopening in the summer of 2013 had to get postponed until May 2014, only a month before the start of the World Cup.
During the 2014 World Cup, the Arena da Baixada will host four matches in the first group stage.
The Arena da Baixada is located rather centrally in the city of Curitiba just south of the city centre. The walk from the principal Praça Tiradentes takes about half an hour. The stadium lies just 5-10 minutes walking south of the Avenida Sete de Setembro, one of Curitiba’s principal avenues.
Curitiba’s main bus terminal (and train station), with frequent connections to São Paulo, is located about 2.5 kilometres east of the stadium just south-east of the city centre.
Bus 203, which runs along the Avenida Sete de Setembro, can be useful to get to the stadium from the centre or vicinity of the bus terminal, but overall you will save little time in comparison with walking.
The Arena da Baixada is located in a reasonably well-off residential area consisting of low-rise housing, though the Avenida Sete de Setembro with its high-rise flats is just a short walk from the stadium.
There are plenty of restaurants and fast-food outlets around the Avenida Sete de Setembro. Nightlife can be found in the Batel area a 20-minute walk north-west of the stadium, or in the city centre (Centro).
There is a good number of hotels at close distance of the Arena da Baixada, though most come in the higher price ranges. The Mercure Curitiba Batel, Harbor Hotel Batel, Four Points by Sheraton, and Slaviero Hotel are all within 15 minute walking and get very good reviews. Click here for an overview of hotels near the Arena da Baixada.
You can find some cheaper alternatives closer to Curitiba’s city centre, which you can explore here.
Atleticoparanaense.com – Official website of Clube Atlético Paranaense.
Arenacap.com.br – Official website of the Arena da Baixada.
Urbs.curitiba.pr.gov.br – Curitiba public transport information.