Governor asks, Massis could pitch Ibirapuera as Morumbi hosts shows | OneFootball

The meeting between São Paulo president Harry Massis and the state governor, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos), at the end of March, served for more than just a routine inspection of the progress of the flood-control reservoir construction works around Morumbi.

According to what AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR has learned, Tarcísio took the opportunity to move forward with an agreement with the club so that it can use Estádio do Ibirapuera as an alternative venue for its matches when Morumbi is handed over for concerts.

A traditional stage for Brazilian athletics, Ícaro de Castro Mello Stadium, which is part of the sports complex that includes Ginásio do Ibirapuera in the south of São Paulo, is in the final stages of its renovation. The project is being carried out through a partnership between the São Paulo State Housing and Urban Development Company and the Sports Department, with an estimated investment of around R$ 70 million. The initiative aims to restore the stadium’s architectural complex based on three guidelines: preserving its original characteristics, adapting it to the rules of modern athletics in accordance with World Athletics, and meeting accessibility and safety standards.

The works include modernization of the athletics track, with the construction of a ninth lane and a warm-up track, as well as improvements to the stands, installation of more than 11,000 seats, new guardrails, two giant screens, and refurbishment of the restrooms, including accessible toilets. Work is also being carried out on the electrical, safety, and drainage systems, in addition to the restoration of the historic concrete structure, respecting the elements protected by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage.

Areas intended for athletes, such as locker rooms, gyms, and physiotherapy rooms, are also being renovated and modernized, with a focus on qualifying the stadium as a training and competition center. Without hosting official competitions since 2015, the complex received a new boost in December 2024 with the formal signing of the contract for the works.

PLANS

The plan of Tarcísio’s state administration is to hold matches involving major São Paulo clubs at Ibirapuera in order to show how successful the renovation has been and thus attract interest in the project to privatize the complex.

The government already has a verbal agreement with Santos for the coastal rival to use Ibirapuera in matches when it wants to swap Vila Belmiro for the state capital.

In São Paulo’s case, the venue will be used because of the unbearable concerts held at Morumbi.

This year, in March, São Paulo was already left without a home because of AC/DC’s three performances at its stadium, and used Canindé as the venue for the clash against Chapecoense in the Brasileirão.

Now, the match against Mirassol, on the 25th (Saturday) in the Brasileirão, has been rescheduled for Brinco de Ouro da Princesa stadium in Campinas (SP). Portuguesa’s home displeased because of the lack of basic infrastructure, such as an internet network, for example.

The change is due to more concerts that the tricolor stadium will host on April 30 and May 1 by Canadian star The Weeknd. Morumbi has to be made available a few days earlier for the setup of the show’s structure.

Later this year, Morumbi has two more sets of concerts scheduled. By Hairy Atyles, at the end of July, when Brazilian football returns after the break for the World Cup. And also by South Korean band BTS at the end of October.

To date, the club has played only one official match in its history at Ibirapuera, on March 19, 1997, when it beat Juventus 2-1 in the Paulista Championship.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.