Maracana: from populist temple to elitist arena

The Maracana stadium, a footballing theatre which every fan dreams of visiting, has morphed into an ultra-modern, sustainable and safe arena, albeit one with elitist traits, compared to the populist temple it once was.

Though the stadium has twice been extensively remodeled since, all Brazilians know it as the place where a nation's dreams died on July 16, 1950, when Uruguay wrecked the party with a 2-1 win that gave it the World Cup trophy.

Alcides Ghiggia's 79th-minute winner ensured Brazil, the overwhelming favorite, was undone in its own gigantic bowl of a stadium.

Even a record five titles since have not entirely dulled the shock of a defeat, dubbed "Maracanazo", which still looms 64 years later.

But Luiz Felipe Scolari's generation of players now have the chance to wipe away the historic stain - though they will only get to play at the stadium should they reach the final.

"When you think of football you think of the Maracana. It is a mecca - everyone wants to visit at least once," Marcos Guterman, author of Football Explains Brazil, said.

The Maracana - also known as the Mario Filho stadium after the journalist who campaigned for its construction - has been the scene of stirring exploits by Brazil's legendary stars.

Chief among them was the incomparable Pele, who scored his 1,000th career goal at the stadium on Nov 19, 1969 from the penalty spot before an adoring crowd.

Contemporary and fellow legend Garrincha also wowed the crowds.

The stadium is not just a shrine to soccer, with music artists such as Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney, Tina Turner and rock band Kiss all filling the venue.

Construction began in 1948, a year after FIFA confirmed the country as the first post-World War II host.

As with this year's event, there were delays - the Maracana was only inaugurated on June 17, 1950, a mere week before the tournament started.

The designers stuck to their blueprint, but by the time the tournament started they had not quite finished.

"The waste of cement, money and time was justified," wrote Teixeira Heizer in his book Maracanazo.

"The Maracana had to be imposing - but also sufficiently solid to support more than 200,000 people jumping up and down."

It took 10,000 workers 665 days to build the venue.

It is estimated that staging the 1950 World Cup cost Brazil about 400 million reais ($173 million at today's rate).

The Maracana was the target of criticism amid an estimated bill of $13 million, but the city authorities and campaigners, led by Filho, won the argument.

Wide-ranging reforms were carried out in 1999 ahead of the FIFA World Club Cup with capacity reduced to 100,000.

Before the 2007 Pan American Games the seatless general admission, which had been free to enter after halftime, was closed off.

Ahead of this year's World Cup the Maracana had to close its doors for 2 1/2 years for a $600 million facelift not to everybody's liking and taking capacity down to 73,531.

After all the expense, Brazil now must exorcise 1950 by ensuring that this year neither Uruguay, nor anyone else, rain on its parade.

(China Daily 05/02/2014 page11)