The Legendary Maracanã Stadium is Up for Sale!

The government of Rio de Janeiro has sparked a major controversy by announcing plans to sell the iconic Maracanã Stadium, a symbol of Brazilian football where Flamengo and Fluminense play. According to Marca, the local Assembly’s Constitution and Justice Commission (ALERJ) has recently amended the initial law proposal, adding Maracanã to a list of 30 properties set to be sold. This move has triggered public outrage. Rodrigo Amorim, the Commission’s president, explained that the government needs to cut costs. “The government spends a fortune maintaining Maracanã, approximately 160,000 euros per match,” he stated. He believes selling the stadium and the adjoining Aldeia Maracaná could generate over 320 million euros, while emphasizing the main goal is to reactivate these spaces and prevent their neglect. A final decision will be voted on by the full Commission in the coming weeks, as the State of Rio is required to repay 1.89 billion euros to the central government by 2026.

Inaugurated in 1950 and famous for the “Maracanazo,” the historic defeat of Brazil against Uruguay in the World Cup final (2-1), Maracanã’s capacity has changed over the years due to renovations, decreasing from nearly 200,000 to 78,838 today. The idea of selling the stadium is not new; billionaire Eike Batista attempted to buy it ahead of the 2014 World Cup final and the 2016 Olympics. Rodrigo Amorim noted that the goal of the sale would not only be to raise funds but also to ensure the stadium is used more productively. “The main objective, more than generating revenue, is to avoid the costs associated with neglecting these spaces and to reactivate them for better use,” he added.