Martins Pereira Stadium

Estadio Municipal Dr. Mario Martins Pereira, usually known simply as Estadio Martins Pereira is a football (soccer) stadium in Sao Jose dos Campos, Sao Paulo state, Brazil. The stadium holds 15,317 people. It was inaugurated in 1970. The stadium is owned by the Municipality of Sao Jose dos Campos, and its formal name honors Mario Martins Pereira, who, together with his brother, called Nelson, donated the groundplot where the stadium was built.

History

The city's stadium in the late 1960s, called Estadio da Rua Antonio Saes, had a maximum capacity of only 5,000 people, and wood bleachers, so, it was sold to allow the building of Estadio Martins Pereira. The stadium construction started in 1968. During the stadium construction time, the football clubs of the city were deactivated.

The inaugural match was played on March 15, 1970, when Atletico Mineiro beat Internacional 1-0. The first goal of the stadium was scored by Atletico Mineiro's Dada Maravilha.

On March 22, 1970, Sao Jose Esporte Clube played its first match at the stadium. Sao Jose and Nacional (SP) drew 0-0.

On November 22, 1987, the stadium's largest score was set, when Sao Jose beat Saad of Sao Caetano do Sul 8-0.

The stadium's attendance record currently stands at 19,000 people, set on May 11, 1997 when Sao Jose and Sao Paulo drew 1-1. However, as it was Mother's Day, women were allowed to watch the match without paying tickets, so, approximately 5,000 women showed up, increasing the match's attendance to 24,000 people.