By Ricardo Setyon
November 24 – They came, they saw, they conquered. And now they can die in peace. Corinthians fans now have their own special resting place – perhaps ironically for a club that has suffered the rollercoaster of life’s highs and lows.
Founded in 1910, and later taking the name of an English team, Corinthians is the second most popular club in the country. After long periods without any title,
since 1998, the road of Corinthians has been paved with glory and achievements.
In 2000 they won the very first FIFA Club World Championship. And since 1998 Corinthians have won five Brazilian Championships and two Brazilian Cups. And even a National Second Division title, in 2008, after a sensationally emotional relegation.
The club has produced some of Brazil’s most brilliant players including Rivelino, Sócrates, and Ronaldo. 2012 was their year of maximum impact, winning the South American Libertadores Cup, followed by the second title of the FIFA Club World Championship, in Japan.
There were even the first steps towards the construction of their own stadium – for more than 30 years the club hve been playing in a small 18,000 capacity stadium. The World Cup this year staged the opening game at their newly built Corinthians arena.
So from this high point where do you go next? A place to rest. Forever.
Corinthians is now offering that to the “Faithful Sufferers”, in the form of a club cemetary ‘Corinthians Para Sempre’ (Forever Corinthians). Other clubs, such as Boca Juniors in Argentina, and Schalke 04 and Hamburg , in Germany, have their own burial plots, but nothing compares to what Corinthians is offering to its “sufferers”.
Just 40 kilometers from São Paulo, in the city of Itaquaquecetuba, a giant area, acquired by Corinthians and their partners, will be available for anyone interested to secure a plot for eternity.
Corinthians has partnered with a private company , a specialist in the cemetery business, with the club taking a percentage of the sale of each plot.
The investment has been taken so seriously, that the total area of the new cemetery is twice the size of the total area of the recently opened new stadium. 402,000 square meters of the cemetery, against 198,000 square meters for the new Arena. 70,000 burial plots, against 48,000 seats, in the new arena.
The club and their partners are marketing the new venture as the “biggest themed cemetery in the world”.
The cemetery, due to open during the second half of 2015, will secure exclusive plots for the legends of Corinthians history. A minimum of 100 plots are guaranteed to the club’s playing legends that are still alive, and for those who are already buried elsewhere, if their family is interested, their remains can be transferred to the new cemetery.
The cemetery is divided into areas offering interesting alternatives for various types of burials, all linked to the love for the team.
For example, one area will be drawn exactly in the shape of a football field. Named ‘My Love’, it is described as the “most noble and exclusive area”.
It will feature goal posts, white lines on a grass pitch, centre circles, 16 meter boxes and even a small set of stands. 400 exclusive burial plots are available with prices varying between €1,384 and €2,398.
In this area a family can chose to have their dear ones close to the penalty spot, in the midfield and so on
The price level down is called ‘Minha Vida’ (My Life) and will have iconography from the club and scenes from its history around 300 exclusive burial plots. Prices here are range from £350 to £1,000.
For those on a budget, £150 will buy a headstone sized plot in ‘Minha História’, which is themed in the colors of the team.
Flower shops, a small forest, a lake, two eateries, an impressive parking lot and many áreas for funerals make up the cemetary.
Corinthians have added a new dimension to the old saying that you are born with your football club. In Sao Paulo you can die with them as well.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734933652labto1734933652ofdlr1734933652owedi1734933652sni@n1734933652oytes1734933652.odra1734933652cir1734933652