Fluminense Football Club - Site Oficial.

Fluminense Football Club acquired its first headquarters on 17 October 1902. The original facility was located on Rua Guanabara (now Pinheiro Machado) at the corner of Rua do Roso (now Coelho Netto). The club rented the land from Banco da República for one hundred thousand réis primarily because the first choice of the club’s founders – the land on Rua Dona Mariana – had been rejected by the land’s owner.

Only one year later the land on Rua Guanabara was graded. At that time, grading machines and lawn mowers were drawn by donkeys. In order to preserve the work the animals had already completed, their hooves were fitted with “gloves.” One of these animals, “Faísca,” became legendary, known as “the most elegant donkey in Rio de Janeiro.”

The land was later purchased by Eduardo Guinle and work immediately began on the headquarters. Initially there was only one small white house which served as the living quarters for the watchmen. After the installation of water and bathroom amenities, Fluminense began paying double the original rent.

On 14 August 1904 the first interstate game was played on the field located on Rua Guanabara against Paulistano. This was the inaugural game on the new playing field in Rio de Janeiro and the directorship of Fluminense ordered the construction of a small wooden arquibancada (“tiered seating”) to accommodate the public. The event marked the first occasion which offered tickets for sale to see a football match. The game brought together 806 club members and 190 spectators from the general public.

In 1905, President Cunha Freire constructed an even larger seating area with his own funds, the first of its kind in Rio de Janeiro. After the work was completed, the rent once again increased, this time tripling. In the same year, through a loan arranged by the members, the original headquarters was demolished and replaced by a newer, larger and more modern facility.

 

The inauguration of the third headquarters on 27 July 1915 was widely celebrated, culminating in a dance held in a roller-skating rink. This was also the first time the Fluminense anthem was sung, penned by Paulo Coelho Netto.

1915 also saw the erection of private seating for the members and their families under the direction of President Cunha Freire. The expansion plan was completed together with the construction of a new rink, updated furnishings, installation of electricity, enlargement of the existing seating and the construction of a standing area.

Reforms began on the fourth Fluminense headquarters in 1918. The work was completed in 1920 under the presidency of Arnaldo Guinle, who hired the architect Hipolyto Pujol to design the facilities. With ornate French glass and crystal chandeliers, the Salão Nobre (“Grand Salon”) functioned as a stage for many shows, dances, parades, operas and ballets. Today, the salon is still frequently used for parties, meetings and as a set for films, soap operas, commercials and series portraying the period, such as Anos Dourados, Dona Flor e Seus Dois Maridos and Villa Lobos. The headquarters is now owned and operated by Fluminense and is a protected historical landmark.

In 1961, the state government requested that part of the land be conveyed to the Superintendênica de Urbanização e Saneamento (Bureau of Ubanization and Sewage, or SURSAN) for the widening of Rua Pinheiro Machado – an area of 1,084m² – resulting in the demolition of part of the seating area. The government reimbursed the club for the loss and Fluminense provided a great service to the city.