Features

BRB takes naming rights to Estádio Mané Garrincha

Banking group BRB has acquired naming rights to Brasilia’s Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha.

The deal is effective from this month and will run until the end of 2024. As part of the agreement, the stadium will be officially rebranded as the Arena BRB.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but reports in the Brazilian media claim that BRB will pay R$7.5m (£976,000/€1.2m/$1.3m) for the rights. BRB is based in Brasilia and also sponsors the city’s TV Tower and the Autodromo Nelson Piquet motorsport circuit.

BRB president Henrique Costa said: “BRB has always associated its history with that of Brasília and that of the Brasilienses. In the midst of our growth process, the commitment is to reinforce this identity and connection with the origins, bringing return to our city.”

The newly-named Arena BRB has a capacity of 72,000 and opened in 1974. The stadium underwent extensive renovation work ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

The stadium hosted seven matches during the World Cup, including Argentina’s quarter-final win over Belgium and Brazil’s third-place play-off defeat to the Netherlands.

Stadium operators hope to attract more state football matches to the venue during 2022. Arena BRB will also host the Supercopa do Brasil in February, while local state club Candangão is set to play some matches at the stadium from this month.

In February 2020, the Arena BsB consortium secured full control of Arena BRB through a 35-year deal that seeks to transform the venue and generate thousands of jobs for locals. Arena BsB is expected to invest R$700m over the course of the contract.

Image: Adriel Marcos/CC BY-SA 4.0/Edited for size