POLITICIANS MOBILIZE FOR NEW FLAMENGO STADIUM IN THE GASÔMETRO AREA

In an interview given after the defeat of Flamengoto Peñarol, 1-0, coach Tite was direct in responding to the boos received by the fans. The statement, marked by a frank tone, exposed the coach's pragmatic vision in relation to demanding fans and the pressure for results. “I respect the fans’ feelings. Of course I feel that (the boos), I'm human”, said Tite, recognizing the fans' frustration in the face of the setback.

Tite's speech reveals that he understands the role of fans as a fundamental part in the context of a club, especially in a team of great expression like Flamengo. By mentioning that the boos affect him as a human being, the coach demonstrates empathy, but does not fail to highlight that the only way to reverse this situation is with achievements on the field. “It can only be reversed in one way”, pointed out the coach.

The response reflects the experience of Titein dealing with pressure who follows the command of great teams in Brazilian football. With successful spells at clubs such as Corinthians, Grêmio and the Brazilian national team itself, the coach has a track record that puts him in a position to understand, perhaps like few others, the relationship between performance on the field and fans' expectations. For him, this connection is clear: “Do you know how to win fans? Do you know how I won over the fans of the other clubs I played for? Win an important title”, he declared.

The phrase highlights the centrality of titles in football, especially in mass clubs like Flamengo. In Brazil, the culture of results is intense, and Tite recognizes that fans have a limited tolerance for negative results. Winning titles, for him, is the key to gaining the support of the fans, and anything other than that results in discontent: “If not, bye.”

This last part of Tite's speech summarizes the characteristic impatience of demanding fans like Flamengo. The coach makes it clear that, without obtaining relevant trophies, the relationship with the fans deteriorates quickly. The pressure is constant and is part of the daily life of those who take on the leadership of top teams. Tite seems, however, to be aware of this scenario and how it needs to be faced.

Tite's statement came after a delicate moment for Flamengo. The defeat to Peñarol, at home, in a group stage match of the Copa Libertadores, raised alarm bells for fans and the coaching staff. Flamengo had high expectations for the season, especially after major reinforcements and the arrival of Tite, a coach with wide recognition on the national and international scene.

The pressure on Flamengo is nothing new. The club, which has one of the biggest fans in the world, is known for its high expectations for titles. The expensive squad, made up of renowned players, also increases this demand. Each stumble is widely covered by the media and amplifies the dissatisfaction of part of the fans, who demand immediate results.

The Copa Libertadores, in particular, has a important meaning for Flamengo and its fans. The continental tournament is seen as one of the club's main objectives each season. Any result other than victory can generate dissatisfaction and pressure on the technical committee, as occurred after the setback against Peñarol.

In this context, Tite's speech not only recognizes the fans' dissatisfaction, but also is realistic in relation to what is expected from a club like Flamengo. The demand for titles is part of the package when taking over a club of this size, and the coach seems to be aware of this when he points out that he will only be able to win the support of the fans with significant victories.

Flamengo president Rodolfo Landim revealed that he will fulfill an old promise regarding the possible new stadium, last Thursday. According to him, if the red-black club's new home really gets off the ground, it will have two sectors without seats, one behind each goal. The club's current president stated that he is inspired by the "general" of other arenas around the world, such as that of Signal Iduna Park, owned by Borussia Dortmund (ALE).

For Flamengo, which has its history absolutely linked to Maracanã, the "general" has great symbolism. In the old days of the stadium, the popular sector, without seats and located on the edge of the field, marked an era in Rio's football. Nowadays, the grandstand style has taken on new formats, but can still be seen in several arenas around the world, mainly in Germany.

Signal Iduna Park is a reference to modernism, without abandoning the "root" of the stands. Borussia Dortmund's home ground is known worldwide for the "yellow wall" sector, which is behind one of the goals. There is no separation into upper and lower stands, and the space has no chairs, which benefits the cauldron aesthetic. The yellow wall sector model is the most requested among Flamengo fans, for their possible new stadium. In addition to the proximity of the stands to the field, the size of the space allocated for the most ardent fans is one of the factors that pleases not only the red and black fans, but also the club's management.

Home of the main team from Germany, Bayern Munich, the Allianz Arena was opened in 2005. Even though it is a recent construction and has an aesthetic very similar to the most modern arenas in the world, the place has a reserved space without chairs. It is behind one of the goals, in the so-called southern sector of the stadium.

Despite some flamengo fans not being pleased with the modern aesthetic presented, the Allianz Arena is seen as one of the references of the red-black board, for the construction of its new stadium. The sector where organized Bayern fans are is not that big, compared to Signal Iduna Park, as it only occupies the lower ring of the three that are present behind one of the goals. However, the proximity of the stands to the field is seen as a positive factor.

The Neo Química Arena, formerly the Corinthians Arena, was opened in 2014 for the World Cup in Brazil. After the end of the World Cup, the chairs in one of the sectors behind the goal were removed. One of the most modern stadiums in Brazil, the home of the São Paulo club manages to create a "cauldron" aesthetic due to the popular space. In addition to the non-seat sector of the arena not being separated by a lower and upper ring, its proximity to the field creates a favorable environment for the home team. Large, spacious and eye-catching, the place where Corinthians' organized fans are located has already witnessed several parties and is one of the differences of the club's stadium.

The MRV Arena, the most recent in Brazil, opened in 2023, tried bring a modern stadium aesthetic. However, the project always envisaged a popular sector without chairs. The same is intended for the main organized fans of Atlético-MG. The space is behind one of the goals, only in the lower ring. Although the sector without chairs is not considered large and spacious, its proximity to the field gives it a "cauldron" aesthetic. The place was designed to house not only Atlético-MG's most ardent fans, but also the mast flags, horizontal and vertical banners and flags of the club's organization.