Flamengo has an average attendance of more than 43 as home team in the Carioca
The debut against Bangu had the best attendance of the 21st century in the club's season opener
By Isabela Abirached - inWhat kind of fan base is this? It's hard to find a definitive answer, but round after round of the Campeonato Carioca, the Nation proves why it's the Greatest in the World. Encouraged by the marquee reinforcements signed for the season and the attractive ticket prices, the red-and-blacks have been putting on a show in the stands at Maracanã. The latest proof was on Sunday (3), against Cabofriense: almost 50 fans cheered the 4-0 rout of a Flamengo team that already entered the field qualified for the semifinals.
Willian Arão, Diego - with a perfect bicycle kick -, Arrascaeta - with his first goal for the club - and Bruno Henrique - isolating himself as the team's top scorer in the State Championship - scored the goals that raised the voices of the 49.365 people present at Mário Filho this Sunday, a crowd that surpassed the classic between Palmeiras and Corinthians the day before (38.550 in attendance). In the first classic of the Paulista Championship this year, between Santos and São Paulo, at Pacaembu, there were only 20.239 in attendance.
Flamengo's Vice President of Communications and Marketing, Gustavo Oliveira, celebrated the box office numbers.
"In addition to the strong squad we've assembled for this season, which naturally leaves the nation excited about the team's performance, we're working on our communications strategies to increasingly optimize service to our fans," said the director.
Best debut of the 21st century
In the first round of the Carioca Championship, Flamengo's 2-1 victory over Bangu saw them fill the Maracanã with 46.472 fans, marking the club's best season-opening attendance of the 34.132st century, surpassing the 2009 in 44.885 and the 2005 in 1986. Prior to that, the only time Zico and Sócrates played together in an official match for Flamengo was in the Fla-Flu match that opened the state championship that year. Rhodolfo and Diego scored the winning goals, which featured Arrascaeta and Gabigol's performance on the pitch as a stunning "preliminary."
In the fourth round, in the 3-1 victory over Boavista, 34.080 people in attendance celebrated the first goal by defender Rodrigo Caio wearing the Sacred Mantle and the goals by forwards Fernando Uribe and Henrique Dourado on a Tuesday.
Now it's classic
Flamengo finished the qualifying phase of the Guanabara Cup with 13 points - four wins and one draw -, in sole leadership of group C, and now decides the semifinal with Fluminense, with the advantage of the draw. The classic will be this Saturday (9), at 19 pm, at Maracanã.
Tickets for the Fla-Flu match are now on sale for fan club members starting at R$24. Check out the plan schedule and see when to buy yours by clicking here! Sales to the general public begin this Wednesday (6). Want to join the Nação Rubro-Negra Program and get priority access to tickets and discounts? Click here!