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Ibirapuera concession project foresees structural changes, increased public attendance, and underground commercial exploration in a listed complex, with urban impact and immediate reactions from sectors related to sports and heritage.
The government of São Paulo opened a public consultation on March 23, 2026, to grant the private sector the Constâncio Vaz Guimarães Sports Complex in Ibirapuera, along with the Mário Covas Olympic Village in Butantã, under a contract expected to last 25 years.
The proposal includes significant changes to the main gymnasium, such as lowering the court, installing air conditioning, creating structures for larger events, and implementing an underground commercial center.
According to the model presented at this stage, the consultation will remain open until April 24, 2026, and will serve to gather suggestions from the public before the publication of the bidding notice.
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In the project documents, the State estimates a contractual value of R$ 736,395,852, and considers the concession as part of the strategy for modernization and expanded use of two public facilities managed by the Sports Secretariat.
The new formulation resumes a discussion that has been ongoing since 2020, when the João Doria government presented a reference project for the same complex.
In that version, the proposal included more aggressive conversions of sports areas, but the scenario changed decisively after the advancement of heritage restrictions and public reaction regarding the future of the complex.
Planned changes in the Ibirapuera gymnasium
In the design now under discussion, the Geraldo José de Almeida Gymnasium, known as the Ibirapuera Gymnasium, concentrates the main interventions.
The proposal foresees lowering the court floor, adopting retractable bleachers, expanding the usable area, and modernizing locker rooms, boxes, and internal facilities.
Additionally, the project includes an air conditioning system and metal structures in the ceiling to support large equipment, such as screens and scenic solutions aimed at shows and competitions.
The minimum capacity expected in the bidding notice is 16,000 people, according to the technical material presented in this phase.
The commercial component also stands out.
The concessionaire will be able to implement a two-level commercial center in the basement of the gymnasium, with one floor designated for parking, and also repurpose currently closed areas around for the installation of stores.
The project also mentions the possibility of a new commercial building of up to 10 meters in height in the area of the current tennis courts.
In the State’s institutional presentation, the official justification is to qualify the infrastructure, increase public access, and diversify the activities offered, preserving the sports and public vocation of the complex.
The government also states that the proposal will be monitored by historical, cultural, and environmental preservation agencies throughout its processing.
Listing of Ibirapuera limits interventions
The main difference compared to the previous concession attempt is the definitive listing of the complex by the National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage, formalized in November 2024.
With this decision, the four main buildings of the complex are protected, including the gymnasium, the aquatic center, and the Ícaro de Castro Mello Stadium.
This measure restricts structural changes and imposes parameters for architectural preservation.
The Iphan reported that federal protection seeks to safeguard the historical, cultural, architectural, and environmental value of the complex.
At the same time, the agency does not prevent restorations, modernizations, and adaptations, as long as they are compatible with the preservation of the asset.
In practice, this means that any larger transformation must respect limits that were not as clearly defined in the proposal presented in 2020.
This new context helps explain why the athletics stadium was excluded from the major works planned for the concession.
The material under discussion considers that the future concessionaire will receive the Ícaro de Castro Mello Stadium already renovated by the State itself.
Stadium renovation and reaction after the demolition of the track
The situation of the stadium gained prominence after the destruction of the old athletics track.
The episode provoked reactions from athletes, specialists, and entities linked to the preservation of the sports complex.
In response, the state government opened a bidding process in September 2024 and signed, in December of the same year, the contract for the renovation, restoration, and modernization of the facility.
According to the São Paulo government, the work includes new track, interventions in bathrooms, bleachers, and support structures, as well as the installation of equipment such as screens and new seating.
The expected delivery is in the first half of 2026, with an estimated investment of around R$ 70 million.
By including the Mário Covas Olympic Village in the same package, the State aims to enhance the economic attractiveness of the concession and distribute sports activities between the two hubs.
The total area of the facilities reaches 279,246 square meters, with 105,340 square meters from the Ibirapuera complex and 173,906 square meters from the Olympic Village.
In the case of the Olympic Village, the proposal foresees optimization of the existing structure and a sports initiation program aimed at training and directing athletes.
In Ibirapuera, the official discourse emphasizes the coexistence of sports and culture, with an expanded agenda and more intensive use of the space.
The combination of heritage preservation, commercial exploration, and reconfiguration of uses is likely to concentrate public debate in the coming weeks.
Although the public consultation allows for adjustments, recent experience with state concessions indicates that the central structure of the model tends to be maintained in the bidding notice.
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