| Fullname: | Estádio Municipal de São Luís |
| Stadium Name: | São Luís Stadium |
| Former Names: |
|
| Type: | Stadium |
| Scoreboard: | Yes |
| Image Alt: | Main entrance and ticket line in 2014 |
| Pushpin Map: | Portugal |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 280 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | São Luís Stadium Location in Portugal |
| Address: | R. Sporting C. Farense, 8000-285 Faro |
| Location: | Faro, Algarve, Portugal |
| Seating Capacity: | 6,500 spectators |
| Record Attendance: | 14,000 spectators[2] |
| Broke Ground: | 1922 |
| Opened: | 1st December 1923 |
| Dimensions: | 105 x 68 m |
| Surface: | Natural Grass |
| Owner: | SC Farense |
| Operator: | SC Farense |
| Tenants: | SC Farense |
| Publictransit: | Próximo Mini Bus Faro |
São Luís Stadium, also known as Estádio Municipal de São Luís, is a multi-use stadium located in Faro, Algarve, Portugal. It serves as the home stadium for Sporting Clube Farense, a football club based in Faro. The stadium was opened in 1923 and has a seating capacity of around 12,000 spectators.
It was continuously used by Farense from 1924, when it became the club's main tenant until 2004 when Farense relocated to the newly built Algarve Stadium. However, since 2013, Farense has returned to playing their home matches at the renovated São Luís Stadium.[3]
Throughout its history, São Luís Stadium has been an important venue for Sporting Clube Farense, witnessing numerous memorable moments for the club. It has also hosted various lower division matches and local football events. While not as prominent as some of Portugal's larger stadiums, São Luís Stadium holds a cherished and historic place in the city of Faro, contributing to the local football culture.
The São Luís Stadium in Faro was commissioned for construction in 1922 by Manuel Santo, a returning emigrant from the United States. Inspired by the great enthusiasm of the time and the lack of a suitable sports venue in the city, Santo acquired a plot of land near the Church of São Luís, measuring approximately 12,750 square meters, where he built the "Santo Stadium" (the stadium's initial name, named after its owner, Manuel Santo).
The plans at the time included all possible amenities for the public, including stands and VIP boxes, as well as provisions for various sports activities. The envisioned stadium was one of the first in Portugal to be built with specific characteristics for its intended purpose.
The Santo Stadium opened its doors to the public for the first time in May 1923. On June 24 of the same year, it hosted its first major event, the final of the 2nd season of the Portuguese football cup, in which Sporting CP defeated Académica de Coimbra 3-0. It was the first time, and one of the very few occasions, that the final was held outside the major circles of Lisbon and Porto.
According to news published on September 21, 1924, Sporting Clube Farense, in a General Assembly, decided to lease the field from the owner of the Santo Stadium, where the club's matches would be relocated.
In September 1924, Farense's matches started being played at this Stadium, which became the home of fervent Faro supporters. Six years later, it changed its name to Campo São Luís, reflecting the stadium's location.
In 1930, it was renamed Campo de São Luís, replacing the old designation.
On November 25, 1942, the stadium was acquired by Eusébio Tomás Lopes, and fifteen years later, on December 14, 1957, it was transferred to the municipal authority through a land exchange deed.
The Faro Municipal Council then changed the name to Estádio Municipal de São Luís solely due to its geographical location.
In 1960, new changing rooms were inaugurated, and on May 24 of the same year, the stadium's floodlights were used for the first time in a match between SC Farense and Ferroviário de Araraquara, where the Brazilian team won 0-5.
On September 8, 1971, the pitch was inaugurated.
In the following decades, the Santo Stadium would change ownership and name until April 1, 1986, when the then Municipal Stadium of São Luís was transferred to SC Farense on the club's 76th anniversary. This came after the stadium had already been the venue for the debut in the top tier of Portuguese football in the 1970/1971 season.[4]
The stadium, inaugurated in 1923, only received a proper football pitch when the Faro team ascended to the top division in the 1970s, but it was in the 1990s that it reached its peak.
During its golden period in the 1990s, the São Luís Stadium gained a reputation among rival fans as the "Inferno" due to the intense atmosphere created by the stands near the field, particularly during matches against top teams. The team experienced glory during this time and even qualified for the UEFA Cup.
The Stadium also had two other names: Estádio Municipal de São Luís and, in 1986, on the day it was handed over by the Faro City Council to the club, Estádio de São Luís.[5]
In 1990, the stadium underwent expansion and improvements in preparation for hosting the 1991 FIFA Under-20 World Cup held in Portugal.
In 1999, the old stand was demolished, and in its place, the new Stand, affectionately nicknamed the Pingo Doce Stand, was constructed. This name was given due to the presence of a Pingo Doce Supermarket located underneath the stand.
In the subsequent years, the Farense club faced financial crises, resulting in a gradual decline through the Portuguese football divisions. In 2006, the senior football team was suspended.
In August 2008, the Stadium was put up for sale at 14 million euros to address Farense's mounting debt, which amounted to 11 million euros, primarily owed to tax authorities and Social Security. However, despite initial offers, all of them fell through just a month later. The proposed buyers could not fulfill their promises, leading to the failure of the sale.[6]
"There was a company, Byteeficaz, that even offered an amount higher than the one requested, but after several promises, the down payment never appeared."
- Aníbal Guerreiro, Sale Commission President of the São Luís Stadium, ex-Vice President of Farense, Farense Club Member #1 .
Another obstacle to the sale was the urban plan that restricted the stadium's sale, mandating the preservation of the sports field, pavilion, and club headquarters, limiting construction to about five or six floors.
Retail Park Portugal expressed interest with a proposal exceeding the 14 million euros, but their offer was excluded because they intended to occupy the area where the SCF Gym is, which was not part of the sale.
After a year, the club revived the senior team, which initially played its official matches at the Algarve Stadium in the district leagues before returning to São Luís Stadium upon promotion to and consolidation in national competitions.
In 2013, the most attended game in the past decade took place, with an estimated audience of over ten thousand spectators, a victory against União de Leiria (2-1), securing the team's promotion to the Segunda Liga.
Around the year 2020, the Faro-based sporting administration (SAD) made an investment of over 500,000 euros to enhance the stadium facilities, ensuring compliance with the elevated standards set by Portuguese football at the higher level.
The investments included upgrading the lighting system, installing a new football pitch, and improving access points and restroom facilities at the stadium.
Currently, with an official capacity of approximately 6,500 spectators, São Luís Stadium is once again a top-tier venue.
In 2021, the central stand of São Luís Stadium was named in honor of the ex-Vice President of Farense and Farense Club Member #1, Aníbal Guerreiro (1932-2023).
The following Portugal national football team matches were held in the stadium:
| Date | Score | Opponent | Competition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 16 November 1977 | 4–0 | World Cup 1978 qualification | |
| 2. | 12 February 1992 | 2–0 | Friendly | |
| 3. | 10 February 1993 | 1–1 | Friendly | |
| 4. | 15 August 2001 | 3–0 | Friendly | |
| Date | Artist | Tour | Setlists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 April 1977 | |||
| 21 August 1982 | Roxy Music[10] | Avalon[11] | [12] |
| 21 August 1982 | Beat[13] | ||
| August 1985 | Tattoo Militar | ||
| 8 August 1989 | |||
| 25 August 1992 | Dire Straits[14] [15] | On Every Street Tour 1991-1992[16] | [17] |
| 21 June 2000 | Luciano Pavarotti[18] [19] |
The City of Faro's Marchas Populares, organized by the Municipality of Faro in partnership with the Sociedade Recreativa Bordeirense, took place on June 18, 2023. The event featured six participating groups parading along Almeida Carrapato Avenue, with a show starting at 9:00 PM. This event celebrated the authenticity and cultural identity of the southern region of Portugal and attracted visitors to the city during the popular saints' festivities, while also highlighting the active participation of local associations in the city's entertainment.[20]
The proposed idea involves the development and production of a commemorative exhibition for the centenary of São Luis Stadium (May 1923 – 2023).
The exhibition will be held at the Belmarço Palace, for one year, with the possibility of later being showcased in other public spaces in the city, such as the Faro Municipal Market, University of Algarve, and other suitable buildings.#
With an initial budget of 30,000 euros, the project aims to illuminate the stadium's history and its significance in Faro's urban development, fostering a deeper understanding of the city's heritage among the local community
The urban planning department of Faro is already gathering supporting documentation for the exhibition's narrative. Given the general lack of awareness among the Faro population regarding the local identity and history of this infrastructure, the production of this exhibition will serve as a significant means to explore and appreciate the history of Faro.[21] [22] [23]