The new Mineirão stadium still has pending issues to resolve.

Brazil Current Network - Belo Horizonte – Despite the setbacks and challenges for the World Cup, there's one thing the people of Minas Gerais can be relieved about. The Governador Magalhães Pinto stadium, the Mineirão, is ready. The opening ceremony was presided over by President Dilma Rousseff on December 21st, with state authorities present. But the new pitch will only feel the weight of the ball with the official inauguration on February 3rd. The debut will be a classic match between Cruzeiro and Atlético, opening the 2013 Minas Gerais Championship season. Before 2014, the arena will also host friendly matches with international teams.

To give the giant stadium in Pampulha a new look, R$ 695 million was invested, which included modernizing the arena, building a roof, parking lots, an esplanade, new stands, and renovating the locker rooms. To meet FIFA standards, the stadium's capacity was reduced and is now 64,5 spectators, where three Confederations Cup matches – including the semi-final – and six World Cup matches will be held.

Although the completion of the project was celebrated in December, the Mineirão stadium is only expected to be truly ready on the day of the derby. In fact, the grand opening will be a test for the organizers of the arena's renovation. Minas Arena, the consortium responsible for managing the stadium in the coming years, and its partner organizations have been working hard to finalize the last preparations for the grand venue of the 2014 World Cup in Minas Gerais.

The main challenge is accessibility for people with physical disabilities. A few days before the opening ceremony in December, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) met with organizers and authorities involved in the renovation, requesting the signing of a Conduct Adjustment Agreement (TAC) to adapt the works to the accessibility standards established three years ago. 

According to a technical assessment by the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office and the State Public Prosecutor's Office, the stadium is not yet ready to accommodate fans with physical disabilities or mobility difficulties. Among the problems highlighted by the inspection is the lack of reserved seating for obese people and those with reduced mobility. Floor markings for spaces exclusively for wheelchair users and their companions are not yet in place. Furthermore, ticket booths, elevators, stairs, telephones, and drinking fountains do not adequately serve this population.

According to the regional prosecutor for Citizens' Rights, Silmara Goulart, it is "unacceptable" that Mineirão has not made accessibility adaptations for its fans. For her, the core of the project includes social inclusion and it must be prepared for this, especially when there is a possibility of hosting events in the future, such as the Paralympics. "A modern football stadium should facilitate, not hinder, the lives of citizens with disabilities," she emphasizes.

During the meeting, representatives from the Minas Gerais Extraordinary Secretariat for the World Cup (Secopa-MG) and Minas Arena refused to sign the TAC (Terms of Adjustment of Conduct), but committed to finalizing the adjustments by the night of the derby in February. In their defense, they argued that the handover ceremony in December was merely a "symbolic act" and that the deadline is the game between Atlético-MG and Cruzeiro.

The big debut is for Cruzeiro fans.

While the official opening for the miners is scheduled for February, the debut won't be so democratic. This is because Cruzeiro, the home team in the derby against Atlético, has decided that the game will be for home fans only. The initiative, announced in early January, has generated repercussions on social media and has received criticism, including from Cruzeiro supporters.

The controversy began when Atlético's president, Alexandre Kalil, announced that matches where Galo (Atlético) was the home team would be played at the Independência Stadium. Due to a ruling by the Military Police, games at the arena are mandatorily for single-team supporters only. The response came immediately, with Cruzeiro's president, Gilvan de Pinho Tavares, deciding to restrict the match to Cruzeiro fans only.

The measure was not well received and drew criticism not only from sports fans, but also from the Minas Gerais Football Federation (FMF). According to the institution's president, Paulo Schettino, the decision must have the consent of Atlético Mineiro's management, since the Minas Gerais Championship regulations stipulate that matches must have at least 10% of the opposing team's attendance compared to the home team.

The meeting to reach an agreement has not yet taken place, and Kalil was incisive in his criticism of the Cruzeiro club's decision. In an interview with Rádio Itatiaia, the Atlético president reiterated that the measure violates the championship agreement and that he intends to take the matter to the state government. "I don't know if the Cruzeiro president knows, but the revenue is divided in this game. It's already in arbitration. They are creating this fuss with the sole objective of forcing Atlético to play at Mineirão," he attacked.

While the teams haven't reached an agreement, Cruzeiro's management has already released ticket prices for the match, ranging from R$ 60 to R$ 120. The stadium's program also includes a concert by English singer Elton John. The show will take place on March 9th, and tickets are already on sale.

Nearly 50 years of history

Inaugurated in 1965, the arena was built to meet the growing demand from fans at the Independência Stadium, which reopened in 2011. The Mineirão project was designed by architects Eduardo Mendes Guimarães and Gaspar Garreto. For its debut, on September 5, 1965, unlike what would happen almost forty years later, the rivalry of Belo Horizonte football was set aside with the creation of the Minas Gerais Selection. The team, made up of stars from the state, faced River Plate and won 1-0. 

A Rebuildables He spoke with the author of the only goal of the match and the first in the stadium, former player José Alberto Bougleaux, nicknamed Buglê. The native of São Gotardo, Minas Gerais, at the time played for Atlético-MG and didn't imagine that that successful play would be forever etched in the memory of Mineirão. "When we went onto the field, we were thinking about winning. It didn't matter who was going to score the goal. I couldn't imagine at that time what this would mean for my life," he admits.

Buglê didn't get to experience much of the stadium's glory days. A few years after the game against the Argentinians, he was signed by Santos and then made his career at Vasco. Today, at 77 years old, with two daughters and a grandson, the player lives in Brasília, but he doesn't miss a casual game of football with his friends. Regarding the new Mineirão? He hasn't seen it up close yet, but he was pleased with the result and remains optimistic about the possibility of hosting the FIFA event again. "We just need to focus like we do in football. When Brazilians do something seriously, they do it very well."