Special Group on Joy and Safety in Stadiums – GEASE-FLA\ Planning Department\
GAME REPORT FLAMENGO x São Paulo\ Maracanã – 10/04/07 – 20:30 pm\
Report No. 6
1) TICKET SALES
Since the beginning of the week, we've received numerous complaints about the extreme difficulty in purchasing tickets. This means we're failing to serve fans who don't have the time or patience to wait for hours in slow, endless lines. Fans, our greatest asset, are the fans.
Here are some reports taken from the media and our partner End of Game:
Ticket confusion at Maracanã
Police are forced to act around the stadium to keep fans at the ticket offices
GLOBOESPORTE.COM In Rio de Janeiro
Hundreds of Flamengo fans left buying tickets for the match against São Paulo at Maracanã last minute. Police were forced to intervene to prevent fights around the stadium. Due to the large crowd of Flamengo fans, there was a lot of confusion at the ticket booths, leaving fans afraid to enter the stadium. Traffic on the streets near Maracanã was congested. "Today, as on other sales days, we saw a long line at ticket booth 8 at Maracanã for tonight's match between Flamengo and São Paulo. Our photographer, Celso Pupo, was there to capture images of the fans waiting to buy tickets. Flamengo fans are expecting a large crowd. Only ticket booth 8 is currently open for sales. Ticket booths 2, 5, and 9 will open after 5 p.m., as stipulated in the Game Plan." (Fim de Jogo website)\ "I saw that the entrance to the Belini stands is without problems, but, on the other hand, ticket booth 17 is packed with people trying to buy tickets. The scalpers are offering tickets, chasing cars in the middle of the street." (Fim de Jogo website)\
In addition to these difficulties in purchasing tickets, we were informed of the bill approved and currently being processed by ALERJ, which requires clubs to make 30% of ticket sales online, as shown in the article below:
Information about the Alerj project
Lancepress!\ The Rio de Janeiro State Legislative Assembly (Alerj) approved on Thursday, in its first debate, a bill that requires state-run stadiums and theaters to make tickets available for sale online, as well as a revenue spreadsheet for the events. The bill is from Congressman João Pedro (DEM).\
According to the law, all data on ticket sales, profits from shows, plays and games must be available on the State Government's website.
- This measure will make it easier for seniors to purchase tickets, as they won't have to travel to the location just to buy a ticket, in addition to meeting a growing demand for online sales - explained João Pedro.
The project, which initially predicted a minimum percentage of 50% of tickets to be sold online, had the proportion reduced to 30% of the load.
The State Legislative Assembly (Alerj) needs to definitively approve the project and Governor Sérgio Cabral must sign it into law.
Ticket sales are a fundamental premise of the Fan Statute and, consequently, of GEASE. It is urgent that we seize the opportunities that are emerging to make this process a reality. We have a great opportunity to become pioneers in online ticket sales and, most importantly, to demonstrate our full capacity to manage Maracanã, our ultimate goal, before the media and the relevant authorities.
2) PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE STADIUM
Until 19:00 p.m., access to the stadium was calm. After that time, due to the large number of fans arriving at the same time, access became complicated. "According to what I reported over the phone, a colleague who had just arrived in the stands said that the entrance was very confusing, with a lot of people arriving at the last minute. There are delays in accessing the stadium for those who intend to watch the game between Flamengo and São Paulo" (Fim de Jogo website).
3) STADIUM ENTRANCE
Until 19:30 p.m., entry was smooth. We once again witnessed the excellent work of SUDERJ fan service employees, providing information, entertainment with music, face painting in the club's colors, and identifying minors with wristbands, both in the lower seats and in the stands. Near the start of the match, the crowds increased dramatically, causing chaos at the turnstiles. "Almost 60 people were inside Maracanã to watch the Flamengo-São Paulo game. Those who arrived late missed significant minutes of the match. That was the information we received from inside the stadium. Ticket booths were full and entry was difficult." (Fim de Jogo website) Some turnstiles malfunctioned, causing some fans to enter without showing their tickets (we appreciate the help of Gustavo from FlaGD).
4) PUBLIC
The crowd was 59.000 paying and 68.000 in attendance, a championship record. The JECRIM (Soccer Court), to our pleasant surprise, was calm, despite the large attendance. There were only five incidents, three of which were for disrespect, and another due to a São Paulo fan throwing a beer cup onto the pitch. This fan was identified by the police, detained, and charged. The last incident was reported by São Paulo fan Rodrigo, who, at the moment of the goal, was hit by a full beer can thrown from the stands, cutting his head and requiring medical attention. This fan was sitting in the lower seats, directly below where the young woman was. It's certainly impossible to know who committed such an act (unless there were stadium cameras pointing at that location), but fortunately, the victim is an adult and suffered no serious consequences. However, this is precisely where most of the children who go to the stadium are located, and the consequences of an object like this hitting one of them in the head can be fatal. We believe that, because of insane and irresponsible people like these, the sale of canned beer in the stadium, at least in the stands, has unfortunately become prohibited. We also noted that fans in the lower seats are not respecting the police's request to sit down. Yesterday, they went so far as to stand on the seats. A campaign to educate fans about sitting down will be necessary.
5) ORGANIZED FANS
Inside the stadium, we saw a huge celebration and calm behavior from all the fans. São Paulo fans had no problems entering and leaving the stadium. Outside the stadium, there was some inconsequential scurrying. The GEPE (National Guard of the State of Rio de Janeiro) accompanied the Jovem (Young Woman) team's exit via the UERJ ramp. Only after the latter's departure, 30 minutes later, did the Raça (Racial Guard) team exit via the Belini ramp. Both the GEPE and the 6th BPM (Military Military Police) demonstrated great skill in maintaining order.
6) MAIN OCCURRENCES
Without a doubt, the fans put on a magnificent spectacle! Only those who were at the stadium could describe the unforgettable and emotional moments provided by all the fans! We congratulate the stadium's electronic display operators, Felipe Goulart and Vinícius Figueiredo, led by the passionate red-and-black fan, on this brilliant initiative. Mr. Pedroza, responsible for Maracanã's logistics, posted the lyrics to the new song on the panels. They achieved the feat of conducting a choir of 68.000 voices in unison, creating a powerful and frightening (for the opponent) "mantra" throughout the stadium, which generated great harmony among all the fans. Hence, probably the very low number of incidents and no fights! We await news for the Fla-Flu match. We also congratulate our GEASE colleague and Flamengo's fundraising manager, Flavio Pereira, for his impeccable coordination of the events at Maracanã, which culminated in the CBF's invitation for the club to also coordinate the entire fundraising process (from sales to stadium control and inspection) for the Brazil-Ecuador match. Once again, our leaders have demonstrated their competence in managing Maracanã, our goal.
7) PARKING
Gate 13 – Delayed entry due to the single-line queue and bottleneck in front of the Museu do Índio. Plenty of parking spaces and well-organized staff from Suderj. Easy exit, with no double-parked cars. UERJ – Closed Surrounding Area – Quiet until 19 p.m.
8) TRAFFIC IN THE SURROUNDING AREA
From early on, traffic was more chaotic than usual. It's worth highlighting the attention given by traffic enforcement to guide drivers. Once again, we're relying on the competent assistance of Fim de Jogo to ensure fans aren't fooled by the parking attendants who promise protection but disappear when the tow truck arrives. We advise those planning to go to Maracanã to visit the Fim de Jogo blog (fimdejogo.com.br) for information on where to park. All of the information below is from Fim de Jogo.
Celso Pupo, on cell phone, near Maracanã Stadium: Today, in addition to the towing operation for the Flamengo-São Paulo game, the inspection team is advising drivers about prohibited parking. He observed this on both Eurico Rabelo Street and Conselheiro Olegário Street. We hope drivers heed it.
"I just got home from work and passed the mobile neon sign at Praça da Bandeira. "Maracanã with towing operation," but if you prefer to test it…" For those coming to the game at Maracanã between Flamengo and São Paulo, it's best not to listen to the parking attendants' instructions, as enforcement is in place. It's also best not to leave it until the last minute, as there's already a traffic jam, starting from the climb up the overpass that leads to Maracanã Avenue." "I saw that the entrance to the Belini stands is free, but ticket booth 5 is packed with people trying to buy tickets. The touts are offering tickets, chasing cars in the middle of the street." "There are no parking spaces on Eurico Rabelo Street, so don't waste time looking for a place to park your car there. The best option is on Manuel de Abreu Street and the side streets after passing São Francisco Xavier Street. Don't park on the sidewalk, especially on São Francisco Xavier Street. At the last game, most of the cars were towed away."\ Lots of traffic and heavy traffic. That's the situation right now around Maracanã. If you're driving, you'd better hurry because you'll waste a lot of time getting here to watch the Flamengo-São Paulo game.\
"The flashing lights, the instructions from the officials, and our post at the end of the game were all for nothing. Here, from the window, while I hear the Flamengo fans' roars, I watch the cars being towed on Rua São Francisco Xavier."
9) GEASE-FLA ACTIONS
We will contact SUDERJ with the aim of finding solutions to avoid the unfortunate incident that occurred with fan Rodrigo, who was hit by a beer can.
We've scheduled a meeting for next week with Major Marcelo to discuss ways to ensure safety for regular fans, who go to the stadium solely to watch and enjoy the game.
We spoke with Fundraising Manager Flavio Pereira about the club's offer to sell tickets online and the urgent need to implement this service. He sees it as a high priority and offered to participate in a meeting that could lead to the implementation of this service.
? GEASE-FLA hopes that Flamengo will adopt, as soon as possible, online ticket sales.
Partnership: “end of game” blog.
Alexandre Moraes\ GEASE-FLA Coordinator\