After the grand opening of Salvador's Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova in '13, the reformed Estádio de Pituaçu has become a "white elephant," according to André Uzêda of UOL. Recently sworn in Bahia Governor Rui Costa was part of the same political group that "took the decision in '09 to reform Pituaçu" at the price of R$50M. The project for Pituaçu was, at the time, to "guarantee a home field for Bahia in Salvador" while the Arena Fonte Nova was under construction in preparation for the 2014 World Cup. When Arena Fonte Nova opened, Pituaçu was left as a "second choice." Pituaçu's monthly expenses, though, are R$40,000 ($13,900); the "maintenance of the electronic scoreboard alone" is R$20,000 ($7,000) per month. Local Superintendent Elias Dourado: "We are looking to partner with diverse businesses that are interested in investing. It is important to also remember that the government does not exist only to generate profit. It exists to make investments to stimulate the sports, the culture and other citizen activities." Local government has been discussing other investments for Pituaçu in order to "adjust it to accommodate new events." One of these includes a "track with official dimensions around the football field" for track & field events. The project is still in the "developmental phase" (UOL, 3/2).
