Maracana may slam doors shut on 'little' people
Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - Rio's famed Maracana stadium, which staged the 1950 and 2014 World Cup finals and will host the opening and closing of the 2016 Olympics, may shut its doors to "little" matches.
The management of the 78,000-capacity ground believe it makes economic sense to only concentrate on arena-filling teams and events.
However, the consortium stressed Thursday that no firm decision has yet been taken.
"In a stadium of international renown and which can host 78,000 people, small matches have little pulling power for the public as is the case with games played in the 'carioca' (Rio state championship," said the Consortium Maracana in a statement.
They argue that it costs as much to open the Maracana for 2,800 spectators -- the average crowd for local football games - as it does for 30,000.
The Maracana is also a major venue for concerts -- last Sunday, US rockers the Foo Fighters brought in $377,000, reported O Globo newspaper.
The legendary Rio stadium was renovated for the 2014 World Cup at a staggering cost of $500 million.
