Arena Fonte Nova Puts Bahia on International Concert Circuit

Other events, such as festivals, conventions, and thematic fairs, consolidate the facility’s role as a multiuse arena, without reducing its importance as a sports facility.

During the first six months of 2017, Arena Fonte Nova maintained the title of “Fountain of Goals,” which it earned during the 2014 World Cup. Players scored 41 goals during 16 games, some of which boasted a record public – such as the final match of the Northeastern Cup, when over 40,700 fans showed up at the stadium to watch the match between the soccer teams Bahia and Sport.

However, it is not the roar of the fans that has earned the facility administrated by Odebrecht Engineering & Construction – Infrastructure the most attention. Arena Fonte Nova has become a reference in multiuse facilities, meeting the local need for sites that can host large scale events in Salvador. In April, the stadium – which served as stage to the World Cup and Rio 2016 Olympic Games – completed four years of operations with some heavyweight events, including the Summer Festival and international concerts, such as Elton John and Dire Straits Legacy.

The facility has also hosted fairs and conferences, including 24 days of cultural and educational events during the first six months of the year, and another 29 scheduled for the second half. By the end of the year, over 351,000 people are expected to visit the arena to attend non-sports events.

On the International Circuit

For Dênio Cidreira, General Director of Arena Fonte Nova, the Paul McCartney concert scheduled for October 20 will earn Bahia a permanent spot on the international performance circuit. “The show is expected to sell out, reinforcing the market’s trust in the services and infrastructure we offer,” said Cidreira. “Features such as the accessibility and flexibility of the space allow producers to explore the arena with comfort and safety,” he said.

Cidreira added that holding the last edition of the Summer Festival in December 2016 was the best possible publicity for attracting new partners. The success of the festival, which was held for the first time in the downtown area of the city – located near a subway station and with several access options via car and bus – revealed the dimension of Arena Fonte Nova’s potential.

“We insisted with national and international producers that, besides the quality of the facility, we offer a differentiated level of accessibility,” explained Cidreira. “We worked in partnership with the Subway Concessionaire, and soon, we will extend this partnership to the new Salvador Airport Concessionaire. Being the only Northeastern city to host Paul McCartney already indicates that the producers are seeing these advantages,” he said.

Other Events

Besides the highly awaited show of the former Beatle, Arena Fonte Nova will also host the U.S. brothers Isaac, Zac, and Taylor on August 27, who promise to relive the 1990s teen classics. The Hanson Brothers will perform at the arena as part of a commemorative tour for the band’s 25-year career. During this same month, technology fans headed to Salvador for a different event. Over 80,000 people participated in the Campus Party event, including 5,000 tourists. December will mark the second edition of the Summer Festival, which has already earned Salvador a spot on the national festival circuit.

For the General Director of the arena, there are no doubts that, from an economic perspective, the city is the big winner. “Large scale events generate positive impacts for everyone, from the hotel industry to retail, while also generating job and income opportunities and increasing tax collection,” said Cidreira. “For us here at Arena Fonte Nova, holding these events also generates positive results. “Besides turning the facility into a living entity on the city’s calendar, it is also a source of pride for the people of Bahia.”

Over 80,000 people participated in the Campus Party event, including 5,000 tourists

In April, the stadium completed four years of operations with some heavyweight events, including the Summer Festival and international concerts, such as Elton John (photo)

During the first six months of 2017, Arena Fonte Nova maintained the title of “Fountain of Goals”. Players scored 41 goals during 16 games