Córdoba is in the middle of a major facelift of El Arcángel, now that it has been transferred by the city hall. The club’s CEO, Antonio Fernández Monterrubio, confirmed that the club has invested “more than 600,000 euros and will increase in the coming months. “It has had virtually no maintenance for 30 years, we are now undertaking the reforms which require the minimum requirements for professional football, but they are complicated.”
Despite this, Córdoba has a moratorium on the first season. Some reforms, such as stadium lighting or changing the turf irrigation system, require a greater investment and, above all, more time. It is for this reason that La Liga allows the green and white club to undertake these reforms within an agreed time frame. However, part of the lighting, the benches, the video refereeing and the scoreboard have already been modified, which now broadcast live images of the duel. All the reforms required for a return to professional football. Renovations have also been undertaken at the stadium entrances as well as an exclusive visitor gate as required by the competition.
Another renovation of El Arcángel for next year will involve finishing the east and south facades of the stadium. The Town Hall will spend 850,000 euros to close the stronghold of Cordoba and ensure a good image from the outside, in Fondo Sur and Préférence. On this subject, Monterrubio said that “we talked about it some time ago with the mayor. “I must thank you on behalf of all the inhabitants of Córdoba for this facade to begin to take on a different appearance.”
In addition, he said that “it is good that the stadium has a skin and Córdoba is going to dedicate resources to this adaptation.” This does not mean that it is because of the arrival of the Spanish team. You don’t need to remember the problems we had with a month delay compared to the other teams, we must adapt as quickly as possible, in the most efficient way. Carefully and delicately in reforms, we must take steps that we will not have to reverse in the future.
Controversy with tickets
Regarding the controversial distribution of tickets to go to Granada, Monterrubio stressed that “it is complicated with 500 tickets, we are in professional football and Aficiones Unidas manages at least 50 percent of the visitor tickets when they are less than 1,000” . However, we have kept fan club member registrations to a minimum. We also know that there are club members who have made all the trips and have not been able to keep a ticket. “We used this method that other clubs have used.”
However, the distribution was not 50 percent, but more than 60 percent since the clubs had 318 and the members 182, which were distributed by drawing lots. Monterrubio added that “in the face of further displacements, we will reassess the situation because it depends on many factors.” Córdoba will travel to Cádiz on November 17 and the same situation could occur as experienced this week to travel to Los Cármenes de Granada.
A special step for the CEO of Blanquiverdes because “I have many memories, I spent five wonderful years and I have good memories of the club, the supporters and the city. I am delighted to return even as a visitor, I am grateful for the treatment they gave me there. I will meet many friends again.
Agreement with veterans
Cordoba signed a collaboration agreement with the Veterans Association of Blanquiverde and Monterrubio confirmed that we are working to install a club museumwith an adaptation process, which can be visited and a tour of the stadium is carried out. “We are looking for locations and hope to have updates soon.” The club is looking to take the next step in its professionalization now that it has returned to the Second Division five years later.
The agreement with veterans four fundamental points. First, “strengthen the sense of identity and belonging to Córdoba. Then, promote and disseminate the practice of football based on the values instilled at the club. Thirdly, strengthening the presence of women in the world of football and finally working on promotional events to go hand in hand. Something that will be seen both in clubs, in schools in the province and during events organized by the club.
