There’s no soccer games, concerts, or events of any type occurring at the majority of the 12 venues that were built or refurbished at a cost of $3 billion for Brazil’s World Cup. In fact, the most expensive stadium in Brasilia is being used as a municipal parking lot for buses.
From Vox:
Of course, the most insane part about all this is that for Brazil, the World Cup was just a prelude to an even bigger waste of public money on sports: the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Though a stadium renovated for the World Cup will be reused for the games, the country will still spend a projected $13.2 billion on other facilities and infrastructure, a number that’s likely to continue climbing as the games approach.
Quite an interesting read. Check out the full article here.
Related – Sad Before & After Shots of Olympic Venues & Truth Behind Sochi
The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
1 comment
No doubt public investment in the venues for the FIFA World Cup and Olympics are hge and with doubtful return. However I’d like to point it out some incorrections and additional facts.
#1 – among 12 venues used in the FIFA World Cup, 9 of them have been used in regular basis by Brazilian Soccer Teams in its regular competitions:
-Arena Beira Rio (Porto Alegre) – used by its owner Internacional in the Brazilian Serie A, Libertadores da America, Copa do Brasil and Regional Gauchao (around 35 matches scheduled for 2015, as well as several rock concerts)
-Arena da Baixada (Curitiba) – used by its owner Atletico Paranaense in the Brazilian Serie A, Copa do Brasil and Regional Paranaense (around 25 matches scheduled for 2015)
-Arena Corinthians (Sao Paulo) – used by its owner Corinthians in the Brazilian Serie A, Libertadores, Copa do Brasil and Regional Paulistao (around 35 matches scheduled for 2015). The venue will also host several Soccer games in the Olympics.
-Maracana (Rio de Janeiro) – beside hosting Opening and Closing Ceremony in the 2016 Olympics, as well several matches in the Soccer Olympics Games, the major venue in Rio hosts the majority of the games of Flamengo and Fluminense, as well some of the hot games from Vasco and Botafogo (including the Regional Cariocao finals). The venue will host over 50 matches along 2015
-Mineirao (Belo Horizonte) – used by Cruzeiro in the Brazilian Serie A, Libertadores, Copa do Brasil and Regional Mineirao (around 35 matches scheduled for 2015). The venue will also host several Soccer games in the Olympics.
-Arena Itaipava Fonte Nova (Salvador) – used by the most local popular team Bahia in the Brazilian Serie B, Copa do Brasil, Copa do Nordeste and Regional Baiano, as well as top matches of the rival Vitoria played in the same venue. The venue will host over 30 matches along the year.
-Arena Itaipava Pernambuco (Recife) – used by Nautico in the Brazilian Serie B, Copa do Brasil, Copa do Nordeste and Regional Pernambucano. Will host over 25 matches in 2015.
-Arena das Dunas (Natal) – used by the 2 most popular local teams (America and ABC) in theis competitions (Brazilian Serie B and C, Copa do Brasil, Copa do Nordeste and Regional Potiguar), will host more than 40 matches in 2015
– Castelao (Fortaleza) – partially hosts the 2 most popular teams (Fortaleza and Ceara) in their competitions (Brazilian Serie B and C, Copa do Brasil, Copa do Nordeste and Regional Cearense), will host over 30 matches along the year.
Therefore 3 out of 12 venues have not been used regularlyÇ Mane Garrincha (Brasilia), Arena da Amazonia (Manaus) and Arena Pantanal (Cuiaba). The venue in Cuiaba has been signing contract to host spot matches from the Serie A teams, and can probably reach around 10 matches this year. Meanwhile Brasilia and Manaus did not succeed to sign those deals, even been venues selected to host Soccer in the Olympics.
#2 – Regarding the venues in the Olympics
-Olympic Stadium is already in use by its owner Botafogo. The venue will receive additional temporary seats to increase its capacity to 65.000 people.
-Most of the venues will be in the Barra da Tijuca Center, that will be converted to a Convention Center after the games.
-Some venues will have temporary structure (same as happened in London 2012), such as Swimming center, Equestrian, Beach Volleyball, Cycling etc
-Some locations as the Sambodromo (that hosts the Carnival Parade) will be used to host competitions as well
-Some venues are been renovated and will receive temporary seats to fit the Olympics request (rowing, sailing)
Of course many issues have not been addressed properly, such as pollution in the Guanabara bay (that will host Sailing, aquatic marathon and Triathlon)., or the delay in the Cycling venue.
I hope these information are helpful. Feel free to reach me, if you have any question.