Madrid regional government keeps process open to strip Rayo Vallecano of stadium concession

The Madrid regional government is not withdrawing the case opened against Rayo Vallecano over the Estadio de Vallecas concession. Culture, Tourism and Sports minister Mariano de Paco appeared on Thursday at the Madrid Assembly plenary session and made clear that the termination procedure is still in motion, even with the club already back at its home ground to compete in LaLiga.

• The regional government keeps the concession termination procedure against Rayo Vallecano open.
• Mariano de Paco guarantees the stadium will remain publicly owned and devoted to sport in Vallecas.
• The minister accuses club president Raúl Martín Presa of wanting to relocate the venue to ADIF land promised by the government.
• Madrid's administration is considering a public-private partnership to run the Vallecas ground.

What Madrid has said about the future of the Vallecas stadium

During his speech at the regional assembly, Mariano de Paco confirmed that the venue keeps its public status and its sporting purpose. The regional administration's goal is for Rayo Vallecano to continue competing in the neighbourhood without the current concession remaining in the club's hands under the existing conditions.

The minister was blunt when outlining the project. He said the facility will be publicly owned, that Rayo will keep playing there and that its use will remain sporting. Asked whether the stadium would stay in Vallecas, he gave a clear commitment: it will remain rooted in the neighbourhood.

Concession termination does not stop Rayo's return to Vallecas

The reactivation of the administrative process does not prevent the first team from immediately recovering the Estadio de Vallecas for its official matches. The Madrid regional government argues that Rayo's return to its own ground and the concession termination case are parallel paths: the club is back at home while the administration pushes ahead with the legal procedure.

That dual approach allows the regional executive to insist that it is working so Rayo can keep playing at the Vallecas ground for as long as needed. The idea is to separate the club's sporting continuity from the management model applied to the venue from now on.

Mariano de Paco's accusation against Raúl Martín Presa

The minister's tone hardened when referring to Rayo Vallecano's top executive. Mariano de Paco pointed the finger at Raúl Martín Presa over his intention to move the stadium to ADIF land that, according to his account, had been promised by the government. That operation, in his version, would have taken the club away from the Vallecas area and justifies the firm stance taken by the regional administration.

It will be publicly owned, yes. Rayo will keep playing there, yes. It will be for sporting use, yes. It will belong to Vallecas, yes. That is my commitment.

The stadium between the current concession and a public-private model

The Madrid regional government does not rule out promoting a public-private partnership formula for the venue. That option would keep the building under public ownership while bringing in external capital and management for its modernisation or operation.

With the termination case formally open, the future of the Estadio de Vallecas is heading towards a new administrative model. The regional executive's approach is to ensure Rayo stays tied to the neighbourhood and that the facility retains its sporting function, without that meaning the questioned concession remains in place indefinitely.

Frequently asked questions about the Vallecas stadium dispute