Benidorm Returns with a Request for Nine Million to Transform Bullring into Multipurpose Venue

It was one of the star proposals of the now concluded Sustainable Urban Development Strategy (Edusi) project, but ultimately, it was left out of the distribution of European funds, and the promised renovation of the Benidorm bullring had to be shelved once again.

Now, with the new Feder fund call named the Local Integral Development Strategy (Edil), Benidorm is back with the ambition to find a new use for the bullring. The city has submitted an initiative valued at nine million euros, aiming to convert it into a multipurpose venue.

Today, the Local Government Board approved the submission of the Integrated Action Plan (PAI) 'Benidorm Open Arena', which amounts to 15 million euros and "comprises three key actions that embody this transformative vision," explained Mayor Toni Pérez.

The PAI, he informed, has already been registered and submitted on the designated platform. On one hand, "the action we have named 'Arena Live', which involves an investment of 10.5 million euros, includes the rehabilitation of the bullring and its conversion into a large multifunctional space for cultural, social, and sports activities."

This is joined by 'Arena Joven', with a budget of 3 million, "which proposes the creation of a youth centre, conceived as an accessible and multicultural, integrative, inclusive, and dynamic space for training, leisure, and active participation of the youth population." Lastly, valued at 1.5 million euros, "the 'Arena Encuentro' action aims to regenerate the urban environment to improve connectivity between the Els Tolls-Salt de l'Aigüa neighbourhood and the city centre, as well as the northern part of the Foietes neighbourhood, through l'Aigüera, also enhancing accessibility and the quality of public spaces."

According to the PAI document approved and registered today, the rehabilitation of the bullring "is not limited to its architectural restoration but reconfigures it as a multifunctional and adaptable space," where "sustainability, aesthetics, and accessibility" will be combined, creating "a venue capable of evolving and responding to changing needs."

Moreover, it will become "a bioclimatic refuge within the urban fabric," and thanks to "smart lighting, acoustics, and environmental management technologies," light and noise pollution will be minimized, "ensuring a balance between cultural activity and urban well-being."

With this action, the bullring will become a cultural epicentre with a stage, a complete backstage, reconfigured stands, loading area, storage, and hospitality spaces, etc.

Furthermore, the plan details that the multipurpose youth centre of the 'Arena Joven' project will act "as a HUB of innovation, training, and entrepreneurship, offering specialized programs in digital skills, creative economy, and new technologies," thereby "attracting young talent" and fostering "collaborative networks among citizens, visitors, and professionals."

Specifically, it will feature a multipurpose hall for events and exhibitions; training rooms and workshops for digital skills, entrepreneurship, and career guidance; a coworking space; a leisure room including video games and board games; a reading and arts area with spaces for reading, writing, painting, and audiovisual production; and a sports area and cafeteria.

Regarding 'Arena Encuentro', it includes the installation of two high-capacity elevators linking the Avenida de l'Aigüera with Calle Austria and the bullring, also incorporating a platform connected to a pedestrian walkway. Additionally, green areas and rest zones will be created, with the entire environment equipped with LED lighting and a water management system.

The mayor recalled that "in January 2024, we already announced that as soon as a new call for European funds was launched, the first project we would recover was the bullring renovation that could not be realized with the EDUSI, for which Benidorm had less execution time than many other municipalities, having been selected in the third call."

"Now we take that project and reconfigure it with a more global and integrated vision to meet the needs of the population, especially the young population of Benidorm," he emphasized.

Toni Pérez indicated that "if we are granted the EDIL and receive the European funds we are requesting, something we hope for, the City Council will cover the remaining 6 million euros with its own resources to complete this ambitious project, with which we fulfill some of the specific objectives included in the Urban Agenda approved today in full session, marking the city we want for the 2030 horizon."

In fact, the execution period for the 'Benidorm Open Arena' plan extends until 2029. Thus, if selected, the plan would be tendered in 2025. The timeline for the first action, 'Arena Live', establishes that during 2026 and 2027, the comprehensive rehabilitation of the bullring would take place; and in the following two years, the interior part would be completed. Regarding 'Arena Joven', it would be addressed from 2027 once the exterior of the bullring is rehabilitated.

It is expected to be operational in 2029. Lastly, the ramps and elevators of the final project would be executed in 2028.