One of them, according to reports, is Hypera Pharma itself, the current partner that has held the rights since 2020. In addition, sports betting companies have shown interest in joining the dispute — in total, four brands are currently in talks with the club, including the pharmaceutical company.
Behind the scenes, expectations are that Corinthians will secure a contract worth up to three times more than the current deal, which is considered outdated compared to market standards, with the new partnership initially set to last ten years.
In his first press conference as president-elect, Osmar Stabile made it clear that the process was already underway and that the club’s aim is to significantly raise the financial level of the agreement.
“Naming rights, the value drops in September, we are talking. There are three companies, I saw comments in the press. I believe another company will join. We are working to bring in much more value than this. The value is low. It was good back then. The press, fans, members, and councilors praised it. But that’s past. The value is low,” he stated.
Last week, the president also stressed that the process will be conducted transparently and with the participation of multiple competitors. “Whoever offers the most will win, as long as it meets Corinthians’ requirements,” he added.
Contract history and new negotiations
The current naming rights agreement was signed in 2020, when Hypera Pharma committed R$300 million (US$55m) over 20 years to name the stadium Neo Química Arena. Although celebrated at the time, the contract is now considered modest compared to recent market deals. One example cited behind the scenes is Pacaembu’s agreement, which closed for nearly R$1 billion (US$184m) with Mercado Livre.
In addition to the naming rights, Corinthians is also progressing with another negotiation related to the Arena: the termination of the contract with Indigo, the company that managed the stadium’s parking lot. A new partner has already been selected through a bidding process, but the official announcement depends on the approval of the club and Arena’s compliance procedures.
Source: GMB
