Corinthians explore options to cut Neo Química Arena debt

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Central do Timão

·6 December 2025

Corinthians explore options to cut Neo Química Arena debt

By Mirella Ramos / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Caixa Econômica Federal is considering alternatives presented by Corinthians to reduce the debt related to the financing of the Neo Química Arena, with the outstanding amount estimated at R$ 655 million. The discussions involve two possibilities recently brought by the club to the bank, which still considers the ideas as preliminary. The details of the negotiation were initially published by the portal Lance!.

One of the options evaluated by Corinthians is the transfer of the stadium's naming rights, currently negotiated with Hypera Pharma, to Caixa for a period of 15 years, which would serve as a debt reduction. The other alternative suggested by the club's management is a long-term refinancing, with a total term of 88 years.

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Photo: André Udilis / Corinthians

The financial issue dates back to the construction of the Arena, which was financed by BNDES. The Corinthians management considers that settling the debt in the current scenario is unfeasible, especially due to the interest rate calculation, based on CDI + 2%, which currently results in a 17% adjustment rate, making any immediate settlement operation expensive.

Within the institution, two departments are analyzing the proposals: Marketing, responsible for the commercial aspect and the impact of potential use of the Arena's name, and Finance, which examines aspects related to the club's liabilities.

The possibility of transferring the naming rights, however, encounters technical barriers. The bank's marketing area highlights that advertising actions cannot be used immediately as financial compensation. For this to happen, a formal brand valuation process, internal approval, and compliance with rules from both Caixa and the club would be necessary. Should Corinthians formalize the initiative, this process of evaluating the commercial value of the naming rights will need to be conducted.

Although the suggestions have not yet been formalized as official proposals, the bank acknowledges that there is room for dialogue. Caixa President Carlos Antônio Vieira Fernandes maintains direct contact with Corinthians and shows openness to studying ways to facilitate payment. A recent example of cooperation occurred with the Doe Arena campaign, which involved Caixa and allowed for the amortization of R$ 41 million of the debt.

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