Reconstructing the sambadrome.

The Rio Sambodromo has never been as originally planned. The  site was severely restricted by the old Brama beer factory, which meant that no stands (bleachers) could be built along most of one side. The sambodromo is to be used in the 2016 Olympics for the Archery events, as well as hosting the final of the Marathon, and this has provided the final impetus to make big changes.

The Brama factory has been empty for several years now. The site has been compulsorily purchased, as has the maze of small old houses, businesses and apartments around its base. The people who lived in this extremely impoverished, dangerous and derelict area have been rehoused miles out in the outer suburbs. Businesses have been paid some sort of compensation.

Demolition of the old setor 2 private boxes started in April.

                                     The Brama factory was demolished in a huge controlled  explosion on the 5th of June 2011. The  entire reconstruction is supposed to be completed in time for carnival 2012, which falls on the 19th and 20th of february. The Rio state tourist board, Riotur, says that the samba schools technical rehearsals in the Sambodromo should be able to carry on unimpeded.

The plan is to build 4 new sectors of arquibancadas (stands / bleachers) and four sectors of private boxes, as well as frisas (open stalls of six seats). The construction should start in the second week of July and take six months. They are also building a museum of samba at the bottom of the sambodromo, under the big arch. And at the same time the existing arquibancadas in setor 1,3,4,5,6, 7, 9, 11 and 13 are being renovated, with new electrics, covers, enlarged kitchens and bathrooms.

Each new block of the sambodromo will have an arquibancada seating 2,880 people, 48 private boxes for 567 people and frisas for a further 1194. The total capacity is being increased from 60,000 to 77,688 spectators.