The Benidorm bullring, closed to the public for years, will be converted into a cultural and social space. After a previous failed attempt, the council has revised the project, now named 'Benidorm Open Arena', and is awaiting approval of the tender specifications for its bidding. This project has external funding, including a European grant of 6,421,000 euros from the EDIL Funds, out of a total of 15 million euros. The remaining nine million will be contributed by municipal funds, with a commitment to materialize the project before the end of 2029 to avoid losing the funds.
The municipal plenary session, in an extraordinary meeting held this Monday, unanimously approved the initiation of procedures for contracting the drafting of the project and the execution of the work. The Councilor for Urban Planning, Lourdes Caselles, indicated that the tender specifications will be presented in the next ordinary session, as the documentation is already in an advanced stage.
The decision to include both the drafting and construction in a single contract is due to the current state of the bullring. The intention is not to demolish the existing building, but to reinforce its structure. However, the councilor explained that hidden defects or corrosion could exist, and a joint contract would facilitate the resolution of these problems, avoiding a conflict of responsibilities between the original designer and the construction company.
“"It guarantees a single responsibility for the final result of the stability and suitability for service of the building and avoids the crossing of responsibilities between the original designer and the construction company in the face of unforeseen events or hidden pathologies, which is common in rehabilitation works of this complexity."
The project is divided into three areas: 'Arena Live', which seeks to rehabilitate the bullring as a multifunctional cultural space for events and to de-seasonalize tourism; 'Arena Joven', which will create a multipurpose youth center for training, creativity, and healthy leisure; and 'Arena Encuentro', which will improve the connectivity of the Els Tolls neighborhood with the center of Benidorm through accessible infrastructure.
The extraordinary plenary session also served to approve the initiation of the contracting procedure for the new regulated public parking management service. The Councilor for Mobility, Francis Muñoz, announced that the new system will include tariff reductions and exceptions for residents. This contract foresees revenues exceeding ten million euros over two years, with a service cost of 9.9 million, resulting in a positive balance.
“"It is a model adapted to a tourist activity, ours, which should not change and in which the aim is to have rotation of spaces so that the city does not overflow."
