Flamengo could lose Gasômetro site amid federal and city dispute | OneFootball

Flamengo’s plan for a new stadium at the Gasômetro site is at risk as a dispute between Brazil’s federal government and Rio de Janeiro city authorities threatens the deal. According to Coluna Do Fla, the row could imperil the club’s 2024 land purchase.

The plot forms part of an agreement between the city and the federal government. The municipality did not carry out the planned works, is being billed R$ 426 million, and has received a recommendation to unwind the chain of possession, which would cancel Flamengo’s acquisition.

The land was transferred to the Porto Maravilha real estate investment fund, then, after remaining unsold, was expropriated by the city via public auction for stadium construction. Flamengo won the tender and agreed to pay approximately R$ 170 million for the site, with some instalments still outstanding.

While many obstacles around the project have been seen as manageable, this issue may not be, and it lies outside the club’s control. It could yet make the stadium unviable.

Under former president Rodolfo Landim, the Gasômetro purchase came with a pledge to deliver the stadium in 2029. After a change of leadership, Luiz Eduardo Baptista, known as Bap, commissioned studies and scrapped that timeline.

The current target is 2036 or later, with projected investment of R$ 2.2 billion. Bap has been cautious and does not want the project to weaken the club’s spending power for player recruitment.

Source: Coluna Do Fla