THIS SATURDAY'S BRASILEIRÃO GAMES: BRAGANTINO, FLUMINENSE AND 2 MORE TEAMS OPEN THE 9TH ROUND

Flamengo and the Rio de Janeiro City Hall have reached an agreement that removes the deadline for completing the Gasômetro stadium project . Previously, the project was supposed to be completed by 2029. This information comes from journalist Rodrigo Mattos of the UOL portal.

CLUB STILL WAITING FOR STUDIES

Meanwhile, Flamengo is awaiting economic feasibility studies conducted by FGV and Arena to obtain a more accurate cost estimate . The initial budget was R$2 billion, but Luiz Eduardo Baptista's (BAP) administration is already projecting figures closer to R$3 billion.

The board emphasizes that it will not move forward with the project if it impacts athletic performance or requires funding from the Federal Savings and Investment Agency (SAF). When deciding when to start and complete the project, the club's leadership points to three determining factors :

1) CAPACITY TO GENERATE OWN RESOURCES: Bap had previously stated that the goal is to increase Flamengo 's annual revenue, which is around R$1.4 billion, by up to 50%. The surplus would be allocated to the stadium . In 2025, with the World Cup prize money, the expectation is to exceed R$1.7 billion in revenue.

2) COST OF MONEY: With the Selic rate at 15%, the current interest rate scenario is considered unviable for borrowing. A reduction in interest rates would be crucial to speeding up the start of construction on the Gasômetro site.

3) STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP : The club is open to the possibility of a strategic partner, as long as the agreement is limited to the stadium, as is the case with Palmeiras and WTorre. Any model that requires a SAF remains out of the question.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS' VISION

With the agreement signed, Flamengo gained time to await a more favorable economic scenario and the completion of budget studies . The board believes the project will only move forward when at least one of these factors—or a combination of them—proves viable.

In recent years, Flamengo and Palmeiras have dominated the race for major national and continental titles. However, according to sports finance journalist Rodrigo Capelo, two other clubs could rival them: Corinthians and São Paulo . The caveat is that both require greater organization to reach this level.

Rodrigo Capelo: "The only clubs that can keep up with Palmeiras and Flamengo in Brazil are Corinthians and São Paulo"

"The only clubs that can keep up with Palmeiras and Flamengo in Brazil are Corinthians and São Paulo. But they're both so complicated that they get tangled up and make bad deals, but they still grow , earn very well, and manage to compete more or less on equal terms in spending. Irresponsibly, but they compete," Capelo said in an interview with the Tricolaços channel.

"These two are unique because of the fan base and location. Being in São Paulo, the country's largest capital and main economic center, boosts stadium revenue , sponsorship revenue, and TV visibility... It's a huge advantage over those in Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, and especially the Northeast. Travel times are also shorter. There are many advantages to being in São Paulo," the journalist concluded.

WHAT DIFFERENTIATES FLAMENGO AND PALMEIRAS?

Flamengo changed its approach in 2013, adopting financial responsibility: spending less than it earned, cutting costs, and prioritizing balance . After years of insignificant signings, the club is now reaping the rewards, even signing starters from major European teams—such as Samuel Lino, recently arrived from Atlético de Madrid (ESP). Palmeiras, for its part, relied on the support of Crefisa and former president Paulo Nobe to restructure its finances and is currently operating sustainably.

Corinthians and São Paulo continue to face problems. Despite their debt, both are still making risky moves in the market . The Parque São Jorge club, for example, pays Memphis Depay a European-standard salary. Corinthians, for its part, almost closed the multi-million dollar signing of Marcos Leonardo from Al Hilal (SAU), but negotiations stalled due to lack of time.

CURRENT CLUBS SCENARIO

Among the four clubs mentioned, only Corinthians will not compete in the 2025 Libertadores. Flamengo, Palmeiras and São Paulo remain in the continental competition. On the national scene, Mengão has an advantage: it is leading the Brasileirão , closely followed by Cruzeiro and Alviverde. On Sunday (14), the team led by Filipe Luís faces Juventude, in Caxias do Sul, in the 23rd round.

In an innovative move, Adidas and Flamengo announced an exclusive new feature for Adiclub, the sports brand's global loyalty program . Active users of the platform will now be able to convert accumulated points into months of membership in the "Nação Sem Fronteiras" fan membership plan.

Flamengo director on partnership with Adidas: "gateway to strengthen fan connection"

This is the first time Adidas has directly integrated its rewards system with a football club. The partnership reinforces Flamengo 's international reach and expands fan engagement opportunities.

"With Adidas, we're taking this relationship to a new level, combining the passion of the red-and-black fans with tangible benefits and exclusive experiences. Adiclub becomes a gateway to strengthening fans' connection with Nação, expanding access and offering new ways to experience the Mais Querido ," said Roberto Trinas, the club's marketing director.

HOW DOES THE PARTNERSHIP WORK?

When purchasing Adidas products, consumers accumulate points on their Adiclub profiles . The new feature is the ability to use these points directly in Flamengo's fan membership program, with the following values:

• 700 points: one month of membership in the Nation Without Borders plan;
• 1,800 points: three months of membership, with a 300-point discount on the full price.

WHAT IS THE NATION WITHOUT BORDERS PLAN?

Aimed at fans outside of Rio de Janeiro, Nação Sem Fronteiras offers benefits such as priority ticket purchases , cashback on official merchandise, and exclusive activations. Additionally, within Adiclub, members receive additional benefits such as early access to releases and invitations to restricted events.

Flamengo's membership program is approaching 100,000 active members, surpassing the current figure of 95,000 . Since January, the number has grown by about 30%, reflecting the expansion of sports and the strength of the fan base.