Why Brazil’s biggest club is afraid to build a new stadium | OneFootball

Corinthians have again become a central case study in discussions around stadium infrastructure in Brazil, this time as a cautionary tale for rivals such as Flamengo. Flamengo president Rodolfo Landim, speaking with reporters during the club’s trip to the United States for the FIFA Club World Cup, pointed to Corinthians' post-stadium trajectory as a warning against rushing into costly stadium projects without first establishing clear financial parameters.

Landim stated that Flamengo’s own ambitions to build a stadium remain on a long-term horizon and would only move forward if the project refrains from threatening the club’s sporting performance or financial stability. “The stadium is a project for the next 50 years. I will never do anything based on emotion. If we’re not absolutely certain that this won’t push Flamengo toward becoming a SAF [a corporation] or compromise our sporting performance, then I won’t do it,” he said. He cited Corinthians’ experience after their stadium was completed: “In 2012, they were Libertadores and Club World Cup champions. I remember friends telling me, ‘Wait for us to have our stadium, then you'll see what happens.’ And what has happened since, from a sporting perspective?”

The reference captures a wider sentiment within Brazilian football circles—Corinthians’ stadium, opened in 2014 for the World Cup, delivered on the club’s dream of a modern arena but was soon followed by reported financial burdens and a period of inconsistency on the pitch. Landim’s message is clear: learning from another club's post-construction challenges is “a sign of wisdom.”

Meanwhile, Flamengo’s own project remains deliberately slow-paced. The club secured land at Gasômetro in July 2024 for R$ 138.2 million plus R$ 7.8 million in additional costs but has not rushed to give the full green light. Technical and financial studies, carried out by four independent firms, have revealed that earlier projections were overly optimistic—both in terms of timeline and costs. “The studies demonstrate that it’s not possible to build in the time or at the price that was initially said. If we’re not sure this doesn’t compromise Flamengo, we won’t do it,” Landim stressed.

Corinthians’ situation is now shaping stadium debates in Brazil. Their experience is cited not just for the initial fanfare of construction, but for the reality that followed: an expensive project, persistent debt pressures, and fluctuating on-field results. For would-be imitators like Flamengo, the lesson is heeded—ambition must be balanced with caution, patience, and above all, financial realism.

Source: Globo