ECNETNews reports that a significant theft has resulted in a multi-million dollar loss for SoccerGrass, the supplier of the playing surface at Allianz Parque. The incident occurred last week at their storage facility in São Paulo.
Approximately 8,000 square meters of synthetic grass, valued at around R$ 1.3 million, were stolen in the early hours of Monday (23). This amount is nearly equivalent to the size of Palmeiras’ stadium field.
The perpetrators utilized three trucks to carry out the theft, which unfolded over a four-hour period. The stolen grass was intended for installation at the CT de Legado da FIFA in Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina.
While a police report has been filed, progress in the investigation has been minimal. SoccerGrass has reviewed street surveillance footage, but lacks internal monitoring within their facility.
In an effort to recover the stolen goods, SoccerGrass has announced a reward for any information leading to the grass’ whereabouts. The company suspects that the thieves had a specific buyer in mind and meticulously planned the heist.
Security footage reveals the calm and calculated demeanor of the thieves as they entered and exited the premises. They appeared unfazed while opening the gate and maneuvering their trucks.
Founded 30 years ago, SoccerGrass has never faced a situation of this nature and did not have insurance for the lost materials.
“The loss amounts to approximately R$ 1.3 million. Importing new material could take around 90 days, especially with the rising dollar exchange rate. We’ve never encountered anything close to this in three decades,” stated the president of SoccerGrass.
