Espaço Unimed

Espaço Unimed
Interactive map of Espaço Unimed
Former names
Espaço das Américas (2002–2021)
AddressRua Tagipuru, 795
São Paulo
Brazil
LocationBarra Funda
Coordinates23°31′37″S 46°40′00″W / 23.5269°S 46.6666°W / -23.5269; -46.6666
OperatorEspaço Unimed
Capacity8,000
Construction
OpenedSeptember 2002
Website
espacounimed.com.br


Espaço Unimed, formerly known as Espaço das Américas from 2002 to 2022, is a multipurpose indoor entertainment venue in the Barra Funda district of São Paulo, Brazil. With a maximum capacity of approximately 8,000 people across a usable area of roughly 3,450 square meters, it is among the largest concert venues in Latin America. The venue hosts concerts by Brazilian and international artists, as well as comedy shows, television productions, corporate events and cultural performances.[1]

It was renamed Espaço Unimed in May 2022, coinciding with its 20th anniversary, following a naming rights agreement between Unimed and Grupo São Paulo Eventos, the company that owns and operates the venue. Since its opening, it has become one of Brazil's leading indoor venues for live entertainment, hosting artists from a wide range of musical genres.[2]

History

Espaço das Américas opened in 2002 and is owned by Grupo São Paulo Eventos, a company with more than 50 years of experience in the entertainment industry, which also operates other well-known São Paulo venues such as Olympia, Toco, Contramão and Overnight, as well as Expo Barra Funda and Villa Country. The venue is run by businessmen Alejandro Figueroa and Marco Antônio Tobal, who are also responsible for the Villa Country concert hall.[3][4][5]

In 2011, the venue underwent a renovation that expanded its capacity to 8,000 people, and it reopened on December 4, 2012, with a performance by singer Roberto Carlos.[6]

In May 2022, coinciding with the venue's 20th anniversary, Grupo São Paulo Eventos entered into a naming rights agreement with health insurance provider Unimed, under which the venue was renamed Espaço Unimed; the deal was reported to run for five years, with an option for renewal, though the financial terms were not disclosed. It was the first time in the venue's history that it had taken on a sponsor's name, and the deal followed Unimed's earlier sponsorship of the Teatro Unimed, which had opened in 2019 in the Jardins district.[7]

Over the years, the venue has hosted numerous Brazilian and international artists, including Jão, Ivete Sangalo, Los Hermanos, Criolo, Emicida, Morrissey, Noel Gallagher, Titãs, and Robert Plant, among others, as well as Queens of the Stone Age, Deep Purple and Pitbull.[3]

Architecture and facilities

Espaço Unimed is located at Rua Tagipuru, 795, in the Barra Funda district, close to the Barra Funda metro and CPTM station, which is frequently cited as a key access point for the venue.[1] The venue occupies a usable area of approximately 3,450 square meters and offers a flexible configuration, allowing it to be adapted for standing-room concerts, seated theater-style events, and corporate or institutional functions.[2] Its maximum capacity is approximately 8,000 people.[2]

Reception and cultural significance

Since opening in 2002, the venue has hosted more than 1,000 shows and drawn an estimated 4 million attendees, according to figures published by Unimed at the time of the naming rights announcement.[6] It is regarded as one of São Paulo's principal indoor venues for live entertainment, having hosted performers across a wide range of genres, from international pop and rock acts to major Brazilian MPB, sertanejo and samba artists.

Noted performers

References

  1. 1 2 "Home". Espaço Unimed (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  2. 1 2 3 "Espaço das Américas passa a se chamar Espaço Unimed". Unimed Institucional (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  3. 1 2 "10 Largest Music Venues In Brazil". The Brazil Business. 2014-11-11. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  4. ↑ "Espaço das Américas passa a se chamar Espaço Unimed". ISTOÉ Independente (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2022-05-10. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  5. ↑ "Marco Antonio Tobal, o magnata da Barra Funda". VEJA SÃO PAULO (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  6. 1 2 Redação (2012-12-05). "Roberto Carlos emociona plateia vip durante show e fala da música 'Esse Cara Sou Eu': "É o cara que eu tento ser"". CARAS Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  7. ↑ "Espaço da Américas vira Espaço Unimed após acordo de naming rights". Exame (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-07-31.
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