Estadio Brinco de Ouro

The Estádio Brinco de Ouro da Princesa is a long concrete curve rising behind the red-tiled roofs of Jardim Guarani. It is not a showpiece of modern glass and steel; its strength lies in the solidity of its construction, particularly the Tobogã upper stand. That structure was a response to the club’s triumph in the 1978 Brazilian Championship, a moment that shifted the ground from a local pitch to a national landmark. The crowd of 52,002 that packed into it for a 1982 semifinal against Flamengo remains the benchmark.

While the card suggests a connection to São Paulo FC, the ground belongs to Guarani Futebol Clube. The visiting side merely used it as a temporary venue, a necessity born of renovations at their own Morumbi stadium. The stadium itself has seen its share of turbulence, including a fire department mandate that adjusted the capacity in 2024 and a period of financial distress that led to its auction in 2015. Yet the pitch remains natural grass, a quiet constant amidst the shifting fortunes of the owners.

Its location between the urban sprawl and the green spaces of the neighborhood gives it a distinct character. It is not the only ground in Campinas, but its circular design—described by the journalist João Caetano Monteiro Filho as a golden earring for the city—sets it apart from the rectangular blocks elsewhere.