June 19, 2015

Brazil's World Cup Stadiums, One Year Later: ESPN looks at Brazil's 12 World Cup stadiums, some of which are barely used because they have no soccer club to fill them. One of the most glaring examples is Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha in Brasilia, which cost $900 million to build and is only used by semi-pro clubs because the city lacks a large pro club. An estimated 30 to 40 percent of construction costs of these venues was lost to corruption.

posted by rcade to soccer at 01:09 PM - 3 comments

How do you build a $900 million stadium in the fourth most populous city in Brazil -- the second most expensive soccer stadium in the world after Wembley -- and not have a local club worthy of filling it? The home club Brasilia FC being four levels down in Serie D is a waste.

posted by rcade at 01:18 PM on June 19, 2015

@rcade I believe your OP answers your question. The corruption is precisely why these stadiums were built.

posted by billsaysthis at 08:55 PM on June 19, 2015

I know, but if the corruption extends far enough to build a world-class stadium, why not go the extra step of getting a team funded that belongs in it? I can employ cognitive dissonance to ignore public stadium financing when there's a team that fills the house -- I'm a Cowboys fan.

posted by rcade at 06:12 PM on June 20, 2015

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