A stadium that hosted World Cup matches just 12 years ago has been transformed into a bus depot. The arena, which seats 72,000 people, was the stage for seven matches during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The venue in question is the Arena BRB Mane Garrincha, located in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia. During the tournament, it was called the Estadio Nacional and featured group matches such as Colombia vs Ivory Coast, Switzerland vs Ecuador, Portugal vs Ghana, and host nation Brazil vs Cameroon.
The stadium also hosted knockout-stage games, including France vs Nigeria in the round of 16 and Argentina vs Belgium in the quarter-finals. Although it was not selected for the semi-finals, it did host the third-place play-off between Brazil and the Netherlands, which the Dutch won 3-0.
At the time, reports indicated that the redevelopment of the stadium to prepare for the World Cup cost a staggering £250 million. When it was sanctioned in 2010, this made it the second-most expensive football stadium in the world. However, in the years following the 2014 World Cup, the stadium lay dormant because Brasilia lacked a prominent football team. Consequently, local authorities decided to repurpose it for other uses, including tattoo festivals and food expos, while the car park has been turned into a bus depot.
It is remarkable that the stadium, once among the most expensive in the world, costs an estimated £1.5 million annually to maintain. Since the World Cup, it has hosted some football matches, including games during the 2016 Olympics football tournament. Additionally, it was used for seven matches at the 2021 Copa America, comprising four group stage games, a quarter-final, a semi-final, and the third-place play-off. Away from football, the venue has hosted concerts, most recently Bruno Mars' world tour in 2024. Other prominent acts that have performed at the Estadio Nacional include Aerosmith, Linkin Park, Black Eyed Peas, and Iron Maiden. Originally built in the 1970s, the stadium underwent extensive renovations for the 2014 World Cup.
