Santa Cruz Mayor Threatens to Leave Coalition Over Stadium Future
José Manuel Bermúdez, Mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, has issued an ultimatum regarding the future of the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium. Speaking to El Día and Radio Canaria, he stated that if the stadium were to be relocated from Santa Cruz, he would leave the Coalition Canaria party.
Both the Santa Cruz and La Laguna councils, along with the Cabildo de Tenerife and the Canary Islands Government, recognise the need for new infrastructure to accommodate larger crowds for the CD Tenerife football club, the CB Canarias basketball team, and large-scale events like concerts and fairs.
Currently, La Laguna has the upper hand with its planned multi-purpose pavilion at Las Mantecas, which is ready for development. In contrast, Santa Cruz faces delays in freeing up land at the refinery site. Bermúdez is urging Rosa Dávila, the President of the Cabildo, to expedite the urban planning process at Granadilla port to facilitate the dismantling and relocation of the Cepsa oil facility.
There are three key projects in play: the Las Mantecas pavilion aimed at the CB Canarias; the proposed Tenerife Arena, which has not yet secured land; and the Heliodoro Rodríguez López, which is due for renovation with an increase in capacity but may eventually face relocation due to space constraints.
Bermúdez’s comments signal concern over the potential loss of CD Tenerife’s home ground. Meanwhile, both Dávila and Fernando Clavijo of the Canary Islands Government have dodged media inquiries on the matter. Dávila left two public events without speaking to reporters, while Clavijo, at a separate event discussing aid for the region due to the Iran crisis, refrained from commenting.
Alfonso Cabello, the Canary Islands Government spokesman, said the discussions surrounding the stadium’s future are expected, noting that many local officials will advocate for infrastructure that boosts public traffic. He emphasised that a new stadium is necessary for the CD Tenerife and potentially for other sports as well. However, he downplayed Bermúdez’s ultimatum, suggesting it stemmed more from personal football passion than political strategy.
Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, Mayor of La Laguna, reacted with surprise to Bermúdez’s statements, explaining that his intention was to create a cooperative opportunity for the football club rather than provoke conflict. He indicated that the current situation reflects deeper internal issues within Coalition Canaria, expressing confusion over Bermúdez’s comments while asserting his dedication to working within mutual interests.
