In light of the State Government's statements regarding the convenience of building a "commercial center" (SHOPPING) and a parking lot in Maracanã, as a way of making the privatization of its stadium attractive, we republish a recent article from the newspaper "O GLOBO", "opinion page", written by former president - Helio Ferraz
Letter from a Rubro Negro to the Cariocas
“Watch out because horses don’t go down stairs” (Ibrahim Sued)
All major cities strive to find solutions to attract relevant investment, employment, income and tax revenue.
Here, we prefer to create difficulties, seek obstacles, rather than facilitate the city's obtaining major investments, such as the "Flamengo headquarters revitalization project in Gávea", which should involve resources in works and services for its installation in the range of US$80.000.000,00.
Furthermore, this will generate an annual turnover of around US$20.000.000,00 in its different activities, and around 1000 temporary jobs and 1500 permanent jobs in its various stages, in addition to being a source of tourist attraction, as we will have football, basketball, swimming, tennis and other shows.
But Flamengo can't!
Real Madrid emerged from its financial crisis when the Spanish public authority, given its importance to the community, authorized the Club to allocate the area of its training center for the construction of a large real estate development that was the main source of restructuring its liabilities.
But Flamengo can't!
In the case of Flamengo, the destination is our core activity, as the renovated social and sports complex consists of green areas, swimming pools, tennis courts, gyms, fitness centers, around two thousand garages, available to the residents of the region, together with the stadium designed according to the most modern concepts: featuring panoramic restaurants, conference rooms, trophy room, sports equipment stores, entertainment, bank, social spaces and general commerce.
This is the model of the modern stadiums delivered between 2002 and 2005, of Sporting in Portugal, of Everton in Liverpool (England), and those in Beijing and Prague, all with the same facilities.
But Flamengo can't!
In addition to everything, the municipality and the state will simply: pay off a debt owed by the “city/state” to our Club, supported by a public deed and as legitimate consideration for the transfer by Flamengo of part of its land, for the duplication of Avenida Epitácio Pessoa/Borges de Medeiros and Mario Ribeiro, when the public entity was obliged, and never fulfilled, to build the stands that would complement, already at that time, our football stadium and all with public resources.
Now, the adopted formula assumes that the necessary resources will be created directly by the Club with the business result of the project itself.
But Flamengo can't!
I would add that the argument that other projects were licensed before ours, these with exclusively commercial purposes and facilities, in the neighborhood (great) is unacceptable.
And why have these voices that rise up against us been silenced?
Another aspect:
Our average attendance in recent championships has been around 15.000 spectators, and a business project of this financial magnitude needs to be scaled to its break-even point and in no way to its peaks, otherwise it will be uneconomical, not only in terms of investment, but mainly in terms of its cost.
Furthermore, the arbitration of a greater demand, so “inelastic” (such as that of big classics and decisive games), not only can, but should, with great advantages, be carried out via the ticket price, making use of the Law of “Supply and Demand” and obtaining revenue, even greater than in the current model.
As a byproduct, we expect the return of the "family fan," a true consumer, who rarely attends for fear of vandalism, discomfort, lack of parking, and the absence of quality services, as in stadiums in the US and Europe.
Therefore, a 28.000-seat stadium, in the heart of the south zone, next to the “Jockey Club” (a horse racing stadium), in front of Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, with a box seat to “Christ the Redeemer”, like the “Chelsea” in the heart of London, or the “Santiago Bernabeu” on one of the main avenues in Madrid.
But Flamengo can't!
Well, there's also the road issue, the assessment and resolution of which are, by definition, the responsibility of the public sector. We've already contributed, having donated part of our land for the widening of the surrounding avenues, without the club receiving a dime. And now, we're offering up to 3.000 parking spaces, provided the underground area of the square in front of our headquarters is incorporated. Furthermore, our games are usually at 21,40:XNUMX p.m., or on Saturdays and Sundays.
Which project has offered the most to the South Zone?
Still, Flamengo can't!
We count on you, fellow citizen - individually or through effectively representative institutions, such as the Commercial Association, Union, Legislative Assembly, City Council, “Firjan”, City Hall and State Government - by our side, in this fight that, after all, is in favor of our City, Flamengo and mainly, yourself.
Flamengo and Rio de Janeiro can, yes!
Helio Ferraz