Estádio do Dragão


The Estádio do Dragão is an all-seater football stadium in Porto, Portugal, and the home ground of FC Porto since 2003. It has a seating capacity of 50,033, making it the third largest football stadium in Portugal.
Designed by Portuguese architect Manuel Salgado, the stadium was constructed to replace Porto's former ground, the Estádio das Antas, along with becoming one of the host venues for the UEFA Euro 2004 final tournament. The inauguration took place on 16 November 2003 with a friendly match against Barcelona, setting an attendance record of 52,000 spectators.
A UEFA category four stadium, it has held several international club and national team competition matches, including the 2019 UEFA Nations League Final.

Construction and inauguration

Construction works began in late 2001, and were completed in November 2003, some months after what was expected, since in February 2002, Porto mayor Rui Rio changed the estate distribution, criticizing the plan for including high-scale housing and shopping for the area. These actions forced the chairman of FC Porto, Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, to halt all building operations, which were only resumed after a consensus was reached.
Designed by Portuguese architect Manuel Salgado and built by Portuguese contractor Somague, it cost €97,755,318, of which €18,430,956 was subsidized by the government. To help underwrite costs, each stand carries one or two sponsor names: Super Bock, tmn, meo, and Coca-Cola. Away fans are placed in the right corner of the upper tier of the east stand, while home Ultra groups, Super Dragões and Colectivo Ultras 95, occupy the south stand and the north stand, respectively, like on the old stadium.
The stadium was inaugurated on November 16, 2003, with a match against FC Barcelona, which featured the debut of a 16-year-old Lionel Messi in the Spanish side. Porto won 2–0 with goals by Derlei and Hugo Almeida. Due to severe turf problems, however, Porto was forced to return and play in the old Estádio das Antas, until the turf was replanted by mid-February 2004.
The stadium is characterized by a frame of 21 000 meters squared of azulejos.

Naming

Prior to the inauguration, the stadium's name was debated internally between elements of Porto's administration, with various alternatives in consideration, such as retaining the old name, Estádio das Antas, or name it after some of the club's biggest historical figures like former player Artur de Sousa Pinga, manager José Maria Pedroto or president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, the latter being, the one with most gathered consensus but ended dismissed by the president himself. After a deliberation period, the name Estádio do Dragão was revealed to the general public.

International matches

Portugal national team matches

The following national team matches were held in the stadium.
#DateScoreOpponentCompetition
1.12 June 20041–2Euro 2004 Group Stage
2.12 October 20053–02006 World Cup qualification
3.21 November 20070–0Euro 2008 qualifying
4.28 March 20090–02010 World Cup qualification
5.8 October 20103–1Euro 2012 qualifying
6.7 October 20115–3Euro 2012 qualifying
7.16 October 20121–12014 World Cup qualification
8.29 May 20163–0Friendly
9.5 June 20193–12019 Nations League Semi-finals
10.9 June 20191–02019 Nations League Final

UEFA Euro 2004

Constructed to become one of the venues of the UEFA Euro 2004 tournament, it staged the inaugural match between hosts Portugal and eventual winners Greece, as well as three group stage, one quarterfinal, and one semifinal fixtures.
DateTime Team #1ResultTeam #2RoundAttendance
12 June 200417:001–2Group A48,761
15 June 200419:451–1Group D48,197
18 June 200419:451–1Group C44,926
27 June 200419:453–0Quarter-finals41,092
1 July 200419:451–0 Semi-finals42,449

2019 UEFA Nations League Finals

One of the venues of the 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals.
DateTime Team #1ResultTeam #2RoundAttendance
5 June 201919:453–1Semi-finals42,415
9 June 201919:451–0Final43,199

Other uses

A major source of income granted by the infrastructure is the planned capability to monetize on organizing events outside of regular football matches. Those extend from business meetings, congresses, summits, festivals, expos and other sports competitions. For example, the ROC committee picked the stadium to host the 2009 Race of Champions South Europe Regional Final, therefore, the grass pitch was converted into an asphalt course in order to accommodate the race. The 2019 ESSMA Summit is also noteworthy by having joined several clubs, leagues and federations representatives together at the venue to discuss matters on the developments and trends of the football industry.
In addition, through different music promoters and specialized event management companies, the stadium already served as a concert venue to four international tour schedules from recognized musical artists along with selected opening acts.
DatePerformerTour / EventAttendanceRef.
12 August 2006The Rolling Stones
The Dandy Warhols		A Bigger Bang Tour47,801
18 May 2012Coldplay
Marina and the Diamonds / Rita Ora		Mylo Xyloto Tour52,457
10 June 2013Muse
We Are the Ocean		The 2nd Law World Tour45,000
13 July 2014One Direction
D.A.M.A		Where We Are Tour45,001

Access and transportation

Access by vehicle is possible through the VCI, a roadway that passes right next to the stadium, granting a direct connection. In the event of coming from the city center, driving down the main Alameda da Antas is another viable route towards the destination. In spite of this, the recommendation is the use of the public transports, which results in a better flux of public movement around the perimeter. Having its own station combined with the infrastructure, the metro functions as the main way of reaching the stadium, with different lines linking the various city areas and a direct connection to the international Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport. Alternatively, the STCP bus service also grants routes for the purpose and there are 150 bicycle parking spots available.
TransportLinesStations / Routes

Metro		Estádio do Dragão ⇄ Senhor de Matosinhos

Metro		Estádio do Dragão ⇄ Póvoa de Varzim

Metro		Estádio do Dragão ⇄ Airport

Metro		Fânzeres ⇄ Senhora da Hora

Bus		401Bolhão ⇄ S. Roque

Bus		806Marquês ⇄ Av. Carvalha