Estádio Heriberto Hülse - Criciúma Stadium Guide

Estádio Heriberto Hülse first opened on the 16th October 1955 with the inaugural match held between Comerciário and Imbituba with the away side sneaking a 1 nil victory. Fully owned by Criciúma Esporte Clube who have resided over the stadium since it first opened, the stadium is named in honour of Heriberto Hülse who donated floodlights to the stadium and was the former Governor of the Santa Catarina region.

Constructed with an estimated capacity of around 15,000, the stadium was expanded in the early 1990s after Criciúma won the Copa do Brasil after drawing 0-0 against the much more fancied team, Grêmio. Managed by famous Brazilian Coach who would go onto to lift the 2002 World Cup for his country, Criciúma enjoyed a period of success across the decade including appearances in the Copa Libertadores.

Essentially the CONMEBOL equivalent of UEFA’s Champions League competition,The Copa Libertadores drew the record attendance for Estádio Heriberto Hülse in 1995 when 32,534 fans crammed into the stadium to see the home side draw 1-1 with São Paulo FC. This record was somewhat controversially achieved when the expansion during this period saw the increase officially to just 25,000.

Today Criciúma Esporte Clube are yet to achieve the same dizzying heights as they did before the turn of the millennium with the team succumbing to relegation all the way to Série C during their lowest ebb. The stadium has continued to undergo minor refurbishments in the proceeding decades with no plans for expansion currently existing.

Estádio Heriberto Hülse is comprised of four stands: North, East, South and West.

Click the thumbnails above to enlarge an image of each stand and to read a more detailed description of each part of the Stadium.