São Januário

Estádio Vasco da Gama
São Januário
Full nameEstádio Vasco da Gama
LocationVasco da Gama, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Coordinates22°53′27.30″S 43°13′41.71″W / 22.8909167°S 43.2282528°W / -22.8909167; -43.2282528
OwnerCR Vasco da Gama
OperatorCR Vasco da Gama
Capacity24,584 (currently 21,880)
Record attendance40,209 (Vasco da Gama 0–2 Londrina, February 19, 1978)
Field size105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Built1926–1927
Opened21 April 1927 (1927-04-21)
Renovated2006, 2012
ArchitectRicardo Severo
Tenants
CR Vasco da Gama (1927–present)

Estádio Vasco da Gama, popularly known as São Januário owing to its location on a street of the same name, is the home ground of CR Vasco da Gama. It is located in the Vasco da Gama neighborhood, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on a hill near the National Observatory of Brazil. Because of its position, it has given Vasco the nickname of Gigante da Colina (Giant of the Hill).

São Januário is considered by fans, journalists, professors and politicians as a symbol of struggle and resistance against racism in the history of Brazil. This stadium has also historic importance, because Brazilian president Getúlio Vargas used it many times to deliver speeches to the Brazilian people. Vargas announced the first Brazilian work laws on the tribune of São Januário.