Concession contract signed for Estadio Maracanã
The operation and management of the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro is secured for the next 20 years. After it was announced in June that the "Fla/Flu Consortium" had won the contract, the official signing of the agreement has now taken place.
In recent years, the question of who would be responsible for the operation, management, and maintenance of the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro has been raised. Due to missed payments by the previous operator, the two clubs from the Brazilian capital – Fluminense Rio de Janeiro and Flamengo Rio de Janeiro – have been running the stadium since 2019. The original six-month contract was subsequently extended. Since 2022, the state of Rio de Janeiro has been seeking a new operator for the historic stadium, officially named Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho. Both the two clubs under the name "Fla/Flu Consortium" and the "Maracanã para Todos" consortium applied for the contract. In June 2024, it was announced that the consortium of the two clubs had won the bid, and on September 27, the new concession contract was officially signed.
The signing ceremony was attended by representatives from Fluminense and Flamengo as well as government officials from the city and state. The signed contract includes not only the Maracanã Stadium but also the Maracanãzinho sports and event arena. Until 2044, the two clubs will be responsible for the operation, maintenance, and management of the 76,804-seat stadium and the 11,800-seat arena.
Mario Bittencourt, president of Fluminense, expressed optimism about the joint operation: "We are opponents on the field, but at Maracanã and in other matters concerning Brazilian football, we are great partners. [...] We are very happy with our work and the strengthening of our team. Congratulations to Flamengo, Fluminense, and our fans. May we continue to be opponents on the field and friends outside it, building a legacy for football in Rio and for both clubs."
The governor of Rio de Janeiro, Cláudio Castro, also expressed confidence: "This is a historic concession, which our management leaves as a legacy for the next 20 years. The entire process was carried out with absolute responsibility and transparency and will guarantee further investments and work at the stadium, the temple of sport. This is not only a legacy for the people of Rio de Janeiro but also for sports, leisure, and culture in terms of everything that Maracanã represents in Brazil and the world. It is a great pride to sign this concession and to be able to continue guaranteeing this success for our population."
The concession process was prepared based on technical and pricing criteria. The contract, managed by the State Secretariat of the Civil House, covers the management of both the Maracanã Stadium and Maracanãzinho. The Secretariat is responsible for overseeing the execution of the planned works. The announcement specifies that the winners will make investments totaling around 34.18 million US Dollar (30.87m EUR / 25.72m GBP) by the end of the concession. This investment will be used for the restoration of water systems, escalators, elevators, and air conditioning, modernization of the stadium's electronic systems, and the revitalization of the football museum. For Maracanãzinho, plans include the implementation of a new audiovisual and acoustic system, as well as repairs to the arena roof and modernization of the gastronomy, lighting, and accessibility areas. (stadiaworld, 01.10.2024)
