The image of the empty chairs at the Castelão stadium during Sampaio Corrêa’s victory over Náutico, in the Northeast Cup, drew attention. Punishment behind closed doors? No. Only the reality of a game held on Carnival Saturday – which is back after two years canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sampaio Corrêa has registered low audiences since last season, but at around two to three thousand people on average. This Saturday, however, only 765 people attended Castelão. There were 663 payers and thus a gross income of R$ 9,650 people was gathered.
In addition to the quantity, the few male and female fans present were concentrated in the covered sector of the stadium – which does not appear on the open cameras and therefore attracted attention on social networks. The sector in front of the cameras, including, is under construction.
The state of Pernambuco has a greater historical tradition of Carnival, with parties mainly in Recife and Olinda, but in Maranhão there are also parties in São Luís and also people who end up taking advantage of the holiday to travel to the interior.
