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Across the world of sports, stadiums have become so-called “white elephants” of little or no value to their owners because they are used far less in the sports context than was expected when the stadium was built. The number of stadiums with stadiums is increasing. big sporting event.
South America is no exception, which is why the number of white elephants in sport was expected to increase in Brazil when it was building or renovating 12 soccer stadiums in preparation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
In 2012, researchers from the Danish Institute for Sport Research and Play the Game described what they expected to happen to these stadiums after their use as a “challenge to a predictable legacy.”
A study by Danish researchers has found that if nothing is done to strengthen post-use planning for stadiums, the utilization of Brazil’s World Cup stadiums after South America’s mega-sporting event will all be below the international average.
However, new research conducted by the Inteligência Esportiva Research Institute (IPIE) in partnership with Play the Game shows that seven of Brazil’s 12 World Cup stadiums “achieved higher than expected occupancy” in 2012. , concluded that 4 of the stadiums had above-average usage. It was included in the international World Stadium Index produced by Play the Game in 2011.
World Stadium Index: Troubled Legacy
Predictions for the 2012 World Cup Legacy Challenge in Brazil were based on information about World Cup stadiums available at the time. www.worldfootball.net. This information was then used by Play the Game’s World Stadiums, an after-occupation study of 75 venues in 20 countries that were built or underwent extensive renovation prior to hosting a major international or continental sporting event. Compared to Index 2011.
A 2012 study found that while some stadiums had a positive legacy or satisfactory development after hosting major events, many stadiums built or renovated for such events had problems. I concluded that there was a legacy. The majority of stadiums listed in the 2011 World Stadium Index had problems attracting larger crowds, and attendance numbers were generally low.
New study: mixed results in Brazil
This new study repeats the work of Play the Game’s 2012 report, “World Cup Stadiums in Brazil: A Predictable Legacy Challenge,” which found that eight of Brazil’s 12 World Cup stadiums belong to public entities. The authors point out that the results of this study are of public interest.
The results of a new study on the legacy of Brazil’s World Cup stadiums are mixed: on the other hand, the study concludes that the post-occupancy condition of the seven stadiums is better than expected, even taking into account international standards . Meanwhile, a new study also confirms a 2012 prediction for Brazil’s stadiums to potentially rank lower in the World Stadium Index.
A limitation of the new study is the lack of data on parts of Brazil’s World Cup stadiums during specific seasons. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were unable to include seasons played between 2020 and 2022.
The study also found that the legacy of Brazil World Cup stadiums influences not only how and to what extent the stadium was used in the post-2014 FIFA World Cup season, but also other factors such as the presence of the home club. It is pointed out that it will be done. Elite competitions, scope of community engagement, where infrastructure will be deployed, and more.
The study concludes that the combination of these factors results in large fluctuations in the annual average usage of Brazil World Cup stadiums, leading to problems of economic viability due to the arena’s low profitability.
numerous allegations of fraud
The authors of the new study say that over the years, several academic studies have pointed out that the 2014 FIFA World Cup was the most expensive, with most of its funding coming from public funds in Brazil. Pointed out.
In 2007, the Brazilian Football Federation submitted a proposal to FIFA estimating the cost of the stadium at BRL 1.9 billion. However, the 2022 investigation revealed a series of documents showing completely different amounts after the Games, including a report from the Federal Audit Office that pointed to expenditures in the range of BRL 25.5 billion, while a report from the Ministry of Sports The book clarified as follows: The amount amounted to 27.1 billion Brazilian reals.
According to FIFA’s financial report, the 2011-2014 World Cup cycle held in Brazil also brought in record revenues for the organization of US$5.7 billion, with South Africa ($4.1 billion) and Germany ($2.5 billion). billions of dollars), surpassing previous World Cups.
“These data might not have been an issue if all the promises to the heritage had been fulfilled. However, the allegations of fraud led to action by Brazil’s monitoring and control agencies.” The study states and gives examples as follows:
- In 2015, federal police launched an operation called “Fair Play” after suspicions of excessive fees at Arena Pernambuco, one of Brazil’s World Cup stadiums.
- In 2016, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office (MPF) cited corruption in the construction of Rio de Janeiro.
- In 2017, the Attorney General’s Office forwarded whistleblower testimony from an Odebrecht employee regarding misconduct at half of the tournament’s stadiums.
- In 2019, the Executive Council for Economic Defense (CADE) initiated a process to investigate cartel formation in the construction of eight arenas.
Cases of corruption, real estate speculation, and urban conservation disputes
In addition to these financial aspects, the new Brazilian study also points out that other studies have questions and gaps related to construction delays and incompleteness, the diversion of funds from health and education, corruption scandals in stadium construction, etc. It is pointed out that it is concluded that.
Several studies have compared the hosting of the FIFA World Cup and other mega sporting events in Brazil over a 21-year period.cent century. His study of the 2007 Pan American Games, which was considered a test event for future mega-events, found that some of the goals set before the games were not achieved.
Issues related to the removal of socially vulnerable communities, the concentration of facilities in specific areas of cities, real estate speculation, and urban conservation disputes are also attracting attention in Brazilian academia.
“All these factors can be considered as contributing to the negative legacy of mega-sporting events in Brazil, and these issues can be identified and thus avoided by subsequent mega-event organizers. expected,” one study concluded.
New research into the legacy of Brazil’s 2014 FIFA World Cup stadiums will be presented in detail at the Play the Game conference in Trondheim, Norway, February 4-7, 2024.
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