LANDIM REVEALS PLANS AND GUARANTEES CONSTRUCTION OF FLAMENGO STADIUM: "LEAVE WITH OR WITHOUT SAF"

Flamengo will have its own stadium. In an interview with Rádio CBN, this Sunday (31), President Rodolfo Landim guaranteed that the construction of the arena on the Gasologista site, in the central region of Rio de Janeiro, will happen "with or without SAF". The president revealed that the board is evaluating the best way to move forward with the project.

"The stadium will come out with or without SAF. The discussion we will have is: what is the way to do this while maintaining the control of the sports association over football? There is not the slightest reason why, whatever the project, the Clube de Regatas do Flamengo with its members should not become the controller of its football", said Rodolfo Landim.

"People imagine a SAF for Botafogo or Vasco. That doesn't exist. What exists is a model that we have already studied, and would have to be discussed with Flamengo's partners if they understand that this is the way forward: the model of Bayern Munich, which sold 25% of the club. Through this mechanism they managed to obtain resources to build a stadium", he added.

Landim criticized the model adopted by Palmeiras for the construction of Allianz Parque, in partnership with WTorre. The company is Vasco's partner in the bid for Maracanã and also has a project to renovate Vila Belmiro together with Santos. The president of Flamengo, however, believes that Rubro-Negro can follow a different path.

"People ask me the following a lot: but why not create a specific purpose company for the stadium? The answer I give is: this is the model that Palmeiras created, and we see what is happening there. The next day, the guy who is your partner is already fighting with you because he wants to increase the stadium's revenue, reducing the club's revenue. I think this model is bad", he explained.

Landim explained the choice of the Gasologista land for the construction of Flamengo's own stadium. For the president, the terrain in the central region of Rio de Janeiro is perfect in terms of mobility and made a comparison with Maracanã itself. Furthermore, he highlighted that an arena can improve the region, which recently gained a new terminal next to the bus station.

"The stadium's challenge is to have access to good land. It is essential to have a place where have mobility of the population to get there. With the construction of the Gentileza Terminal in front, there is a BRT terminal, a VLT terminal, a bus station in front and, even for those going by train or subway, it is a distance of 1 km or so from the station Cidade Nova. In other words, as a mass transport site, it is perfect for placing a stadium", he stated.

Finally, Landim explained the reason for bidding for the Maracanã even with the construction project of Flamengo's own stadium close to getting off the ground.