Vasco weigh delaying São Januário rebuild to stage centenary farewell in 2027 | OneFootball

According to PaponaColina, Vasco da Gama are weighing whether to delay the closure of São Januário until 2027, staging a centenary farewell before works begin.

The idea would be to keep the ground open through 2026 and into early 2027, then host a major celebration in April 2027, marking 100 years since the official inauguration. Closing the stadium in 2026 would leave the centenary year amid demolition or construction, draining the symbolism.

Sentiment collides with finances. The decisive factor is the sale of development rights, a mechanism approved by Rio City Hall that allows the club to sell construction potential elsewhere to fund the rebuild.

If contracts are signed quickly in early 2026, pressure to start immediately could grow. Leaving cash idle for a year might be risky, potentially inflating building costs, so closure could happen this year and reshape the centenary plan.

Whatever the start date, the goal is a modern home befitting the club, with capacity around 57,000, upgraded hospitality and accessibility, and the protected facade preserved. The project also aims to requalify the Barreira do Vasco surroundings.

The board are working on two schedules. Plan A keeps the stadium open until the centenary while peripheral works proceed. Plan B shuts it soon after contracts are signed, prioritising delivery of the new arena, with a decision due in the coming months.

Source: PaponaColina