What is the capacity of Rio's Sambódromo?

Rio’s Sambódromo has a capacity of 90,000 people.

The Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí is a permanent parade ground in central Rio de Janeiro built specifically for the city’s Carnival samba-school parades. It converts a section of Marquês de Sapucaí Street into a long avenue bordered by spectator stands, allowing enormous crowds to watch the schools compete.

Designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer, the venue opened in 1984. The parade avenue is about 700 meters long, and the complex ends at Praça da Apoteose, or Apotheosis Square, where performers complete their route and where concerts are sometimes held outside Carnival season.

A frequent source of confusion is the venue’s original capacity. When it opened, the Sambadrome accommodated roughly 70,000 spectators. Renovations connected with Rio’s preparation for the 2016 Olympic Games added seating and increased the stated capacity to 90,000. São Paulo’s Anhembi Sambadrome is a different venue and has a different capacity.