Second World Cup stadium ready in Brazil

Photo from thebrazil.com

SAO PAULO  — Brazil’s Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte was ready to reopen on Friday after renovation work in preparation for the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup.

The stadium underwent a major refurbishment over the past two and a half years during which 655 million reals (about $328 million) were invested.

The 62,000-seat stadium will host three matches of the Confederations Cup and six of the World Cup.

The Confederations Cup is a preparatory event for the World Cup. It will be played at six venues in Brazil.

Mineirao is the second of the 12 World Cup stadiums to be ready.

The Castelao Stadium in the northeastern city of Fortaleza was inaugurated Dec.16. The 67,000-seat stadium was refurbished at a cost of 519 million Brazilian reals ($259.5 million).