The reconstruction of the Mineirão for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ has shown a progress rate of 40% in this month of November, according to the State Secretariat for the World Cup (Secopa), and ranks among the most advanced of all the stadiums for this sporting event. This does not mean, however, that the main stadium of Minas Gerais has been without problems in 2011.
Two strikes and also the leak of a partial analysis by the State Audit Court (Tribunal de Contas do Estado - TCE) showing overpricing of up to R$ 22 million put the work project at risk. The second strike period started in September, right in the middle of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to commemorate the milestone of one thousand days left for the World Cup in Brazil.
Despite these problems, the main defeat by the people of Minas Gerais was actually the loss of the right to host the opening game of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ to São Paulo, and that of hosting the final of the Confederations Cup to be held in 2013 to Rio de Janeiro.
Even though a semi-final is guaranteed in both competitions, the Secopa and also the Minas Arena consortium (Construcap, Egesa and Hap) were expecting at least one prominent role in the test event held by FIFA.
Progress of the Work
Without much publicity, the Government has stuck to the work schedule. In all, 1,500 workers are working so that the Mineirão may be delivered on December 21st, 2012.
At present, the Arena is in the last phase of construction work. The highlight has been the start of the assembly of the Esplanade, a space that will hold up to 60 thousand people on the outside of the Pampulha Giant, and which will consume up to one third of the total value of the venture, or R$ 228 million.
The Esplanade will have snack bars, restaurants, shops, bars and also the ticket offices for the stadium. In the basement of this structure with an area of 80 thousand square meters, there will be new car parks with 2,600 spaces and also a museum dedicated to soccer in Minas Gerais. The intention is that this space may receive major cultural events after the World Cup.
To construct the Esplanade, five thousand pre-molded parts will be used. According to Secopa, so far 600 parts have been installed, while another three thousand are in stock. The work should be completed by June next year.
Apart from the assembly of the Esplanade, the services of construction of the foundations are nearing completion. On the inside, 65% of the work is now complete, while on the outside the completed part comes to 70%.
Cover
The constructors have also started to prepare the structure that will receive the metallic cover which is now being produced. According to the President of the Minas Arena consortium (Construcap, Egesa and Hap). Ricardo Barra, the cover is one of the most sensitive points of the project.
“What makes the work more difficult is the fact that this is refurbishment work, as we have to use all the existing structure in the readaptation of the Mineirão”, he says. “This makes the work even more complicated. We cannot work on the external structure, for example, as it is listed by the city”, Mr. Barra recalls, mentioning the traditional arched facade of the Magalhães Pinto Stadium.
One of the main concerns of the people responsible for the stadium is the rainy season, as in Belo Horizonte rain tends to be frequent between October and March. However, Secopa rules out possible delays to the schedule.
Model
The contract for the refurbishment of the Pampulha Giant is a Private-Public Partnership. In all, the work has been divided into three phases, with the Minas Gerais State Government being responsible for the two first phases and the Minas Arena being responsible for the final phase, which is the main part of the venture.
Once completed, the Mineirão will have a capacity for 67 thousand people, with 80 special boxes (camarotes) and space for nearly three thousand journalists. In the external area, the Esplanade will be open 24 hours a day, as well as hosting shows and other major events.
highlights
04/05 | News
