In the heart of Rio de Janeiro, the iconic Maracanã stadium has become a spectacle of endurance, having hosted its 56th match in 2023.
This staggering number exceeds by up to four times the activity witnessed in some of Europe’s premier stadiums during the same period. The survey on arenas around the world is from the Brazilian outlet UOL.
What is causing the Maracanã stadium to deteriorate?
The rigorous succession of matches — frequently featuring Flamengo, Fluminense, and even Vasco — contributed to rapid degradation, far outpacing the game frequency experienced by Europe’s prominent arenas.
The likes of Allianz Arena and Parc-des-Princes, home to Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain respectively, only hosted a mere 13 sporting events since the start of the year. This paltry number pales in comparison to the Rio de Janeiro coliseum’s bustling calendar.
Even Manchester City, whose consistent presence in finals meant a hefty match schedule last season, saw just 18 home matches in 2023. A notable exception was Italy’s San Siro, shared by Milan and Inter Milan, which welcomed games 33 times this year. Nonetheless, it too falls short of Maracanã’s frenetic activity.
To give you an idea, here are the number of matches played so far across popular stadiums in 2023
Match frequencies across International and Brazilian arenas in 2023:
- Maracanã (Brazil): 56 matches
- San Siro (Italy): 33 matches
- La Bombonera (Argentina): 21 matches
- Etihad Stadium (England): 18 matches
- Santiago Bernabéu (Spain): 17 matches
- Estádio da Luz (Portugal): 15 matches
- Allianz Arena (Germany): 13 matches
- Parc-des-Princes (France): 13 matches
Ainda sem conseguir superar isso. Vocês são demais.
📸: Marcelo Gonçalves e Mailson Santana/FFC pic.twitter.com/3i7sct4tSS
— Fluminense F.C. (@FluminenseFC) August 25, 2023
Active measures to save the Maracanã
With the pitch succumbing to overuse, the Maracanã administration sought to rescue the stadium through an indefinite closure.
As the curtain falls temporarily on Maracanã’s spirited matches, it is expected to reopen its doors after the September FIFA break.
The respite is likely to salvage the deteriorating pitch and counterbalance the potential harm to players’ performance and safety.
With the tantalising prospect of hosting the Libertadores-2023 final on November 4th, the Maracanã remains a hub of both history and endurance, an emblem of Brazilian football’s vibrant spirit.
