Allianz Parque

Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras. Three words that carry so many different emotions and feelings for approximately 19 million passionate Brasilians worldwide. Obviously, i am one of those 19 million fans!
SE Palmeiras is the only team in Brasil to win every recognised national title (11 national titles in all: 8 league titles and 3 national cup titles), along with 3 international titles (2 South American and 1 world title), 22 São Paulo state titles (2^nd overall in the state behind Corinthians) and 5 interstate (Rio-​SP) titles. It is currently the 2^nd most winningest national team behind Santos FC, with both having 8 championships and Santos having the advantage in the runner-​up title category. It also has the honourable distinction as being the only club that also represented Brasil in a friendly tournament against Uruguay in 1965; not only the players were all from Palmeiras, but everyone else including the coaching and auxiliary staff were all from the club
Palmeiras was founded here in São Paulo on 26 August 1914 by Italian immigrants and their descendants, desiring to maintain a little piece of «home» in the heart of Brasil. It was originally called «Palestra Itália» and even had the club charter written exclusively in Italian, to «maintain the spirit of Italianess that is found in its very name». Not too long after it was born, Palestra began to win their matches against local adversaries and was beginning to form a formidable reputation as team to be reckoned with. Palestra soon had their own stadium built on a piece of land owned by the Antarctica beverage company in 1917, where it still is found today in the neighbourhood of Perdizes
During World War II, the Brasilian government enacted a law that would strip any company or organisation that had any links with German, Italian or Japanese culture. Being Palestra a football club that was distinctly Italian, the government forced it to change its identity or face extinction. On 14 September 1942, the club dismissed all of their Italian-​born, non-​Brasilian directors and changed the club’s name from «Palestra Itália» to «Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras». Club Secretary Pascoal Giuliano famously declared at the fateful directors’ meeting: «They don’t want us to be Palestra, so then we shall be Palmeiras». Six days later, they marched onto the field at Pacaembu Stadium against São Paulo FC — carrying a large Brasilian flag — and won their first match as their new incarnation of Palmeiras
After many decades of glory, Palmeiras decided to demolish the old Palestra Itália Stadium and announced that a new arena would be built in its place. It will be the first FIFA-​ready stadium in South America and it will be a multipurpose complex that can also host non-​football venues. Naming rights to the new arena was sold to the Allianz company in 2013 and after a online voting competition, the new name for the arena was officially designated as «Allianz Parque». It is almost nearing completion, and when open, will have an official FIFA capacity of 45 000 and almost 60 000 for non-​football events
Although the current state of the team doesn’t reflect its glorious history, you will probably not find a fan base more dedicated and fanatical than Palmeiras fans in Brasil. Even two recent relegations to the 2^nd Division didn’t quash the fervour and love for the club
A club that was originally Italian in origin is now a truly Brasilian club that embraces Brasilians of every creed. Good thing, because i am nowhere near Italian! ;)