Corinthians’ Bahia match takings at Vila Belmiro to service Arena debt | OneFootball

Corinthians’ matchday income from the 2-1 defeat to Bahia at Vila Belmiro will be channelled towards instalments on the Neo Química Arena, despite the game being played at Santos’ ground.

According to Meu Timao, a 2022 refinancing with Caixa Econômica Federal prioritises matchday revenues, classifying ticket income as project receivables held in accounts linked to the stadium financing. These funds are automatically used to pay instalments via a payment account or to replenish a reserve account.

The mechanism applies even when Corinthians play away from Itaquera for scheduling or logistical reasons, so the club cannot freely use such income. It also covers ticketing across other departments, including women’s football, youth teams and basketball, whether at the Neo Química Arena, Parque São Jorge or elsewhere.

For Wednesday’s Campeonato Brasileiro opener, the club’s net take of R$ 511,948.66 will be directed to Arena payments.

The renegotiation lifted the club’s debt with Caixa from about R$ 400 million to roughly R$ 700 million, including interest and charges, with interest set at Selic plus 2% and quarterly instalments. In 2023 and 2024 only interest from the default period between May 2017 and the end of 2022 was paid.

Principal repayments began in January 2025, with instalments between R$ 20 million and R$ 30 million scheduled through 2041, and around R$ 93 million paid in 2025. The last disclosed balance, for September, stood at R$ 653.1 million.

Retention on Neo Química Arena ticketing is progressive, 50% in 2022-24, 55% in 2025-27 and 58% from 2028 until settlement. The package also ties in commercial contracts and the naming rights deal with Hypera Pharma, signed in 2020 to December 2040, with annual transfers of about R$ 15 million adjusted for inflation.

A reserve account must hold between R$ 80 million and R$ 120 million, otherwise Caixa can retain other revenues, including player sales, broadcast rights and prizes from CBF and Fifa competitions, releasing only any excess. Additional guarantees include promissory notes of R$ 100 million each plus a single note of R$ 48.5 million, and a lien over Parque São Jorge covering all properties at the club’s social headquarters.

Source: Meu Timao