Public-private partnerships (PPP) in mega-sport events: a comparative study of the provision of sports arenas for the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil

Abstract Due to its recent adoption, little is known about the performance of public-private partnerships (PPP) and their determinants. The present study aims to investigate the behavior of PPP and their contractual variations in the provision of sports arenas for the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil, using a comparative perspective on traditional public and private provision modes. The research adopts a qualitative approach with an exploratory perspective and multiple case studies. The results suggest that, for Brazilian public administration, PPP presented good value for money, especially in terms of the time schedule, costs, diversified revenues and bidding process as a result of incentive structures coming from PPP contracts and private partner flexibility.