The agreement between Elda City Council and the Eldense sports club, signed last August, became a formal reality after all previously agreed measures were approved at the extraordinary general assembly held this Monday. The session lasted only eleven minutes, a nod to Elda’s tradition of quick plenary meetings that cut straight to the point, even for an emergency session focused on a single objective: approval of the city’s tourism sponsorship with the Eldense sports club, SAD.
The session opened with a vote confirming the meeting’s urgency. Elda’s mayor, Rubén Alfaro, explained that certain matters cannot wait for the standard November general assembly. He then announced the approval of the contract for the sponsorship, which portrays the city’s image through Eldense and the sports club.
This sponsorship entails an annual municipal contribution of 660,000 euros, extendable for up to five years, and grants exclusive use of the Nuevo Pepico Amat Municipal Stadium facilities. To accompany the agreement, a branding initiative titled “ELDA leaves its mark on you” has been rolled out. It features the image of a woman’s shoe and the Eldense emblem on the team’s jersey sleeve, with the rest of the teams wearing complementary designs. The sponsorship also covers the club’s uniforms, travel gear, a team bus, media room, and advertising supports within the stadium.
The measure passed with votes in favor from the majority and two Vox councilors voting against, while a single spokesperson, Paqui Vicente, spoke during the discussion. Critics argued that the contract could strain municipal finances, noting that information had arrived over a short weekend and that the agreement could reach several million euros with extensions. They warned that voting in favor might tarnish the city’s image if financial or reputational issues arose.
The government team had hoped to present their proposal during the ordinary general assembly on Friday, October 27, but chose not to wait another month to begin the sponsorship. Treasury Undersecretary Fernando Gómez declined to respond to opposition members during the general assembly and instead held a post-assembly press conference to explain the decision. This led to the emergency session and a focused evaluation of the contract’s viability.
According to Gómez, the Eldense club should submit the agreement to Hypermotion League immediately. He described it as the club’s largest corporate deal to date, underscoring the urgency of the session not only because of the financial scale but also due to the transfer of sports facilities that the government favors in support of the organization.
In response to Vox’s concerns about the intervention’s feasibility report, the Treasury President noted that the Elda Town Hall is financially sound and that the agreement does not pose an economic risk. He emphasized that the documents were prepared by municipal technicians, and that there is both an intervention report and a management ministry report fully approving the contract, indicating no risk.
Eldense took the lead by beating Burgos
Economic impact
The recruitment dossier aims to promote the city through the football club. The Treasury Undersecretary explained that the urgency decree not only represents institutional support for the club but also seeks to attract more than 12 million euros per football season in economic activity. The anticipated flow includes fan visits, meals at restaurants, entertainment, and hotel stays, with media exposure across television platforms.
Data stems from a report prepared by the Valladolid Chamber of Commerce on the economic impact of sports clubs in Castile and Leon. It highlights how similar clubs have generated significant indirect and induced effects for municipalities, with notable figures reported for comparable cases. The new branding is expected to set Elda apart from other cities, producing a tangible return beyond simple advertising, and contributing to social and economic vitality by drawing fans from across the country and abroad through league influence in attracting audiences throughout Europe.
The external promotion achieved through this initiative is considered highly important. It reinforces Elda’s identity as a city known for its footwear heritage and for welcoming visitors from other regions and countries, supported by the league’s broad reach across Europe and beyond.
Social Services lit the fuse in the Elda General Assembly debate
Other measures
The emergency plenary session also addressed measures that did not need to wait for the next city council meeting. For example, a proposal to authorize new financing for construction works on Alfonso XIII, Olimpiadas, and Filipinoas avenues was put to vote. The measure received positive votes from all political groups and was tied to a proposal from the Alicante Provincial Council.
The Treasury undersecretary explained that the measure was technical, aligning annual income amounts with project needs. Increases in material costs were addressed at the request of the County Council, which funded part of the action.
Additional cooperation agreements were noted between the Elda City Council and the Opera and Concert Association, the Historical and Cultural Heritage-Mosaic Friends Association, and the Local Youth Council.