Martín Presa: “If they revoke the concession, we’d build another stadium”

Martín Presa, president of Rayo Vallecano, spoke on El Partidazo de COPE about what’s happening with the Vallecas stadium and the club’s near-term future. He was emphatic that his priority is to remain in Vallecas: “The last thing we’d want is for Rayo to leave Vallecas… We want to stay in Vallecas,” he said, stressing the club’s link to the area.

Vallecas is the goal

The club also confirmed that the home match vs Racing Santander (this Saturday at 6:30 pm) will be played at Butarque, as already happened against Alavés. Presa said: “We were 100% convinced we would play the Saturday match in Vallecas,” adding he doesn’t understand how the game can’t be held there.

If the situation worsens, he outlined a fallback plan. Should “in a hypothetical scenario… they revoke that concession,” he said they would have to “immediately seek to build another stadium,” trying to do it in Vallecas first, though he admitted that if it’s impossible, they would focus on “surviving.” “That’s the last thing we want,” he added.

Legal steps and wider impact

Presa also warned that if the problem repeats and the next home game—against Espanyol—can’t be played in Vallecas, they will take action: “Given what we’ve seen, we will have to start legal measures and ask for judicial help against this… that we’re suffering.” He criticized the notion that it all boils down to something like “you have to sign an audit.”

He argued that, in his view, “the stadium is currently in an optimal situation,” saying people “are not in danger coming to Vallecas,” and pointing to evacuation drills carried out every year.

Finally, he highlighted the effects on supporters and the sporting risk. “The harm done to 15,000 people who have to go to Leganés is terrible,” he said, adding that they are not accounting for “sporting, economic, reputational risks,” and even “the safety of some people who work here.” He also claimed: “The two points we lose against Alavés—those we wouldn’t lose in Vallecas.”