Author: Vishwajit Sawant
Palmeiras, one of Brazil’s biggest soccer clubs, is heading into the ninth round of the Brasileirão with concerns about its stadium, Allianz Parque, for the final stretch of the championship. The club is facing a scheduling conflict with several events scheduled for the stadium in November, which could affect its key matches.
Among the scheduled events is a much-anticipated concert by international pop star Taylor Swift, which will take place on November 25 and 26. These dates coincide with two Palmeiras home games: one against América-MG on November 25 and the other against Fluminense on November 29. Although there may be enough time to dismantle the stage and prepare the pitch between the two events, this creates uncertainty for the club’s planning.
In addition to Taylor Swift’s concerts, other events such as the GPWEEK festival on November 4 and a Roger Waters concert on November 11 complicate the situation even further. The game against Atlético-PR, scheduled for November 1, could be affected by the festival, while the game against Internacional on November 12 will be impossible to stage due to the stadium’s requirements.
On previous occasions, when faced with the unavailability of the venue, Palmeiras turned to the Morumbi Stadium, reaching an agreement with São Paulo FC to use its facilities. This reciprocal agreement was used in important matches in various competitions this year, such as Paulistão and Libertadores.
The relationship between Palmeiras and WTorre, the company that manages the stadium until 2044, has been tense recently. Disagreements over unpaid debts and the implementation of facial biometrics for access on match days increased tensions. Palmeiras has already implemented the technology in its sections, but is now demanding that WTorre do the same, leading to conflicts over the timing and implementation of the system.
As the Campeonato Brasileiro intensifies, Palmeiras has to face these challenges, looking for alternative venues and resolving conflicts with the stadium management to secure a favorable position for the final matches. The outcome of these negotiations and the impact on Palmeiras’ performance have yet to be revealed, as the race for the Brasileirão title is intensifying.