Mariano de Paco keeps the plan to end the Rayo Vallecano concession

Mariano de Paco, Madrid’s councillor for Culture, Tourism and Sport, confirmed in the Assembly plenary that the procedure to end the concession tied to Estadio de Vallecas remains active, despite Rayo Vallecano getting back to play there.

The regional government said the venue will keep its public and sporting status and stated it is working so “Rayo can keep playing in Vallecas for as long as they need”, adding that leaving the current concession would not mean moving the stadium outside the neighbourhood: “Public ownership, yes. Rayo will keep playing there, yes. Sporting use, yes. In Vallecas, yes. I commit.”

A 15,000-euro fine against Rayo Vallecano also remains in place, and de Paco even left open the possibility of a public-private collaboration for the ground.

Vallecas for now, management shifts

He also linked the tougher stance to what he described as moves by club president Raúl Martín Presa to take the stadium to ADIF land that the government had promised. For now, Rayo recover Estadio de Vallecas from tomorrow for their matches, while the Community of Madrid weighs ending the concession and moving to a mixed management model, according to Mundo Deportivo.