Neo Química Arena revamped for NFL: Chiefs vs Chargers showdown | OneFootball

The Neo Química Arena will host, for the second consecutive year, an official NFL (National Football League) game, the world's premier American football league. Next Friday, the 5th, at 9 PM, the stadium will host the match between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs, valid for the first round of the 2025/2026 regular season. The transformation of the arena began right after the final whistle of the Derby between Corinthians and Palmeiras, held last Sunday, the 31st.

By Monday, the 1st, the venue began to take on a new look, with part of the wrapping completed, the traditional "Y" installed in the end zone, the locker rooms personalized with the teams' colors, and the start of yard markings on the field, which is still underway.

Photo: José Manoel Idalgo/Corinthians

As soon as the last fans left the Neo Química Arena after the classic, the transformation for the NFL game began. The game will be played this Friday with a series of changes in the Arena, such as field customization, the installation of a temporary grandstand, and the setup of an official store and fan fest in the parking lot. A turf renovation, carried out during the break for the Club World Cup, is also an important novelty for the event.

Last year, during the match between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers, held in the same stadium, there were criticisms of the field quality due to slips that hindered plays. To avoid similar problems, several interventions were made.

Among them, the installation of temporary stands in the East sector, with about 1,500 seats, and provisional seats in the North sector, which reduces approximately 1,600 seats. The total capacity will be about 47,800 seats, but not all will be available for sale due to operational issues, such as space reservation for cameras and exclusive press areas.

Another important change is the complete customization of the field, with field markings, painting, and goalpost installation. The NFL field is 120 yards (109.7 meters) long by 53.5 yards (48.92 meters) wide, while the Arena measures 105 meters by 68 meters. To meet the league's standards, the turf underwent a renewal process with new synthetic fibers, stitched into the ground to strengthen the base of the natural grass roots.

There was also seeding, soil decompaction, and replacement of sensors that monitor moisture, salinity, and temperature of each field sector. According to Márcio de Luna, the Arena's general manager, all the work was carefully planned.

“We have a new field, very similar to when the stadium opened in 2014. These processes of seeding, new synthetic fiber, and decompaction contribute to keeping the field in good condition, regardless of the sport. They are carried out anticipating the NFL game and Corinthians games. Consequently, this benefits the stadium as a whole, for Corinthians matches and other events that may happen here.”, he said.

Additionally, new structures were created for the event, such as a press room on the third floor of the West building, a superstore in the East parking lot, an internal store in the Lower West sector, and the installation of concrete barriers to enhance security. The improvements began in mid-August, with intensified work after Sunday's classic, but some structural changes had been planned for about four months.

These interventions include improvements in lighting, internal cabling structuring, and the installation of new pyrotechnic points, all based on the experience gained from last year's event. According to Márcio, the adjustments were crucial to ensure an even greater spectacle.

“These are internal structural adjustments to improve the operation, which last year we didn't have time to do. This year, it was done much earlier. There is a very significant structural enhancement in the stadium, carried out by the NFL, and this obviously remains here for us as a legacy for the stadium.”, he commented.

“For us, it is a great pride to have had continuity in this. Doing it the first time is one thing, having continuity is another. Practically everything went right, and everything that went right was maintained. In this second year, we focused our efforts on evolving.”, concluded the manager.

Once the game between the Chargers and Chiefs is over, a task force will begin to readapt the stadium for the match between Corinthians and Athletico-PR, scheduled for the next 10th at 9:30 PM. The biggest challenge will be removing the NFL markings from the field. The team will start the cleaning work in the early hours of Saturday (6th), but according to the Arena's management, it is possible that some markings will remain visible during the return match of the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals.

With all these changes, the expectation is that the NFL São Paulo Game 2025 will be even more organized and impactful than the previous edition, establishing the Neo Química Arena as one of the main international stages for American football outside the United States.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.