Bragarnik leads the drive to turn the sports city project into a tangible reality. A substantial tract of 60,000 square meters was secured through a public auction, located near Camino de Castilla behind the university and adjacent to parcels owned by the Fundación del Elche. Negotiations involved at least one neighboring landowner as part of a broader strategy. The club recently took ownership of the property at the auction, with the Valencian Financial Institute taking part, as confirmed by its chairman at that time. The public institution had initially started with a bid double the original offer, and Elche ultimately secured the plot at a premium. The initial bid by Elche stood at 90,000 euros, and the final price reflected the auction dynamics of the day, ensuring the land stayed in Elche’s hands and that a portion of public funds was returned through the sale.
In the closing moments, the club surpassed the IVF offer by a razor-thin margin of 9 euros. This decisive push kept the farm estate with Elche, and the public agency required payment equal to the winning bid. The result was a repayment to public coffers for part of the investment that day, effectively recycling funds into the public budget as the transaction closed.
Maximum shareholder Christian Bragarnik spoke to reporters last May and expressed surprise at the amount IVF had offered at the auction. He argued that the land, classified as rural, did not carry an unrealistic valuation. He emphasized that a project of the caliber of Elche’s envisioned sports city would be realized in this very location. As the auction drew to a close, Elche chose to retain the land. Bragarnik also noted that other options existed and would be evaluated if the deals with the current landowners, including former Franciverde directors still involved, yielded meaningful results. A new factor would come into play if those negotiations bore fruit, potentially clarifying where the sports facility would eventually be situated.
Reports indicate Elche is negotiating the purchase of additional land along Camino de Castilla, close to the club’s current holdings. Specifically, there is potential to add a substantial tract of land currently assessed at roughly 60,000 square meters. By consolidating this space, Elche envisions nearly half a million square meters dedicated to the sports city, a major milestone for the club that aims to host a first-team residence, football fields, sports halls, and locker facilities nearby for ready access to training and competition fields. The plan clearly points toward a top-tier, integrated training complex for first-team operations.
The auctioned land owned by the Foundation could mark the start of a larger project that must navigate several bureaucratic steps, given its rustic land classification. Elche’s president acknowledged to the same newspaper the challenges ahead: to build a sports facility on rustic land, the project would require a Statement of Interest from the community, two environmental impact assessments, and thorough analyses of road access, power line crossings, and any nearby aviation considerations. The process is meticulous and will require multiple approvals and time, even for a club of Elche’s stature.
Options
Thus, the club has regained a stake from the Foundation, and it will explore all available paths before deciding where to place the sports city, as stated by Joaquín Buitrago. The plan to locate the center next to the stadium seems ideal in theory but may be impractical due to the landowners’ financial claims. It is clear, however, that the owner is determined to elevate Elche to a prominent position in the top division and sustain elite status for years to come. While the most recent operation occurred in Argentina, Bragarnik’s involvement remains a central focus of the Franciverde project, reinforcing the owner’s commitment to realizing the vision.