The Museum of Football, located in Sao Paulo’s Pacaembu Stadium, has become one of the homes to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, even though it is not host any matches. A few weeks prior to the contest, foreigners and Brazilians alike began turning up in large numbers, driven by the latest trending topic: football. And the museum has prepared a special program for those who want to watch matches on match days, and in the meantime learn about the history of the players, balls, and teams that starred in the 20 World Cup editions that have passed.
The city of Sao Paulo received nearly 500,000 tourists from June 12th to July 10th due to the World Cup. Over 299,000 visitors were Brazilian and 196,000 were foreigners, according to the City Hall. Revenues are estimated at R$ 1 billion (US$ 450 million at current exchange rates).
Over the course of 23 days, attendance at the Fifa Fan Fest on Vale do Anhangaba? was 567,000, averaging at 24,680 people per day. Maximum capacity (25,000) was reached on days when Argentina and Brazil played. In the Vila Madalena neighbourhood, chosen as the premier tourist spot during the Cup, an average of 50,000 people watched Brazil’s games, with eventual peaks at 70,000.
The mayor Fernando Haddad said the event was trouble-free. "The amount spent on funding the World Cup did not exceed S?o Paulo’s annual expenditure on events like Formula and Carnival. The entire event, including land repossessions and construction works, has cost between R$ 30 million to R$ 40 million. For all the things the event has brought to S?o Paulo, we have remained within the strict boundaries set by the government." Haddad believes that over time, the city will be able to assess the benefits of the Cup, especially in tourism. "We hope that the World Cup will have consequences for S?o Paulo in the short and medium terms, especially in gastronomy and culture. Last year, the city was the preferred destination in Brazil, and the third leading destination in Latin America. All of the tourists say they have enjoyed the city and plan on returning."