Olimpico Joao Havelange

The roof has a history of its own. It once closed for nearly two years after engineers warned it could fail in high winds.

There is a stark, industrial feel to the concrete. In the stands, the seats are arranged to create patterns. On some nights, the crowd uses the white and black seats to form large emblems, but even empty, the geometry of the seating block is clear. The entrance covers are white, contrasting with the darker concrete of the main structure.

The most unusual feature for a football ground is the track. A blue running surface encircles the pitch, separating the field from the stands. This is a remnant of its time as a multi-purpose arena for the Pan American Games and the Olympics. The track is still there, unchanged, even though the surface beneath it has been replaced. The grass was once natural, but now the pitch is artificial turf, a bright green rectangle surrounded by the blue track and the grey concrete. The floodlights are mounted on the long horizontal beams under the arch, casting a harsh light over the entire oval.