The influence of stadium renovations on the ambiance perceived by soccer audiences: the case of the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro

Carrying a triple economic, social, and political dimension, the ambiance of a football stadium is an essential intangible asset as a cultural heritage. It is a subject of conflicts of use between organizations in the sports-spectacle sector and supporters. This article aims to analyze the impact of the renovations carried out in Maracanã Stadium, which took place from 1999 to 2014, on the ambiance experienced by cariocas clubs' public. An ethno-topographic study was conducted, involving participant observation of 15 matches and 26 individual active non-directive interviews with spectators, to design a mnemonic archive of Maracanã. Through exploring the memories of the public, this research reveals five categories of metaphors that hold significance in describing the ambiance experienced and perceived before and after the renovations. These renovations, not only alter the ambiance of the stadium but are universally experienced as an urban trauma, compromising the re-appropriation of this public space by its users.