Negotiations Ongoing as Maracana Remains in the Dark

(ATR) The utilities provider for the Maracanã tells Around the Rings the ball is in Odebrecht’s court to resolve the stadium’s electricity situation.

Power to the Maracanã was cut off on Jan. 26 over unpaid bills from September to December. Since the Rio 2016 organizing committee relinquished control of the stadium in October, the stadium has slowly deteriorated without an operator. The consortium in charge of the stadium, Maracanã S.A. comprising of South American construction company Odebrecht and global entertainment company AEG, refused to reassume control of the stadium citing unfinished repairs.

Light, the Rio-based utilities company, said in a statement that it hasresolved debts with the Rio 2016 organizing committee, confirming what Rio 2016 told ATR last week.

"The committee has already informed us of the intended payment of the debts totaling $580,000," a Light spokesperson said to ATR.

"Light is in negotiation with Odebrecht and is still awaiting a proposal from Maracanã S.A. Concessionaire on the delays of November and December 2016 and January 2017, with total debt of approximately $420,000."

Odebrecht says it should not be charged for utilities in the stadium when the concessionaire was not in charge of its operations. A statement from a company spokesperson confirmed to ATR that Odebrecht is continuing negotiations with Light on the matter.

"The concessionaire reiterates that, since it only resumed control of the complex on January 18, 2017, it will charge the energy consumption of the official and friendly matches held in the complex [from November to December] to those responsible for releasing the stadium for such events," the Odebrecht spokesperson said.

From October to December numerous Brazilian football matches featuring the clubs Flamengo and Vasco da Gama were held in the stadium. In addition, a charity match hosted by Brazilian football legend Zico was held in late December, the last time the stadium was used.

According to reports from O Globo last month, Flamengo paid out of pocket to clean and use the stadium, but did not negotiate with either Maracanã S.A. or the Rio State Government to use the facility.

The spokesperson did not say which companies would be charged by the consortium for the use of the stadium.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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