CD Eldense’s Finetwork Arena: A Vision for a Modern Multisport Venue
Submitted about a year ago, the most ambitious project for Eldense Sports Club centers on Finetwork Arena — a multifunctional stadium designed to host roughly 18,000 spectators. Beyond serving as the home ground for CD Eldense’s Blaugrana teams, the arena is also envisioned as a hub for diverse cultural events, reinforcing the club’s role in the broader community.
Pascual Pérez’s appointment as club president in 2020 signaled a continuation of the team’s rising fortunes. After promotions that propelled the club toward higher leagues, the squad has maintained a steady presence in the upper tiers and is steadily carving out a stronger place on the national football stage. The team now sits comfortably in a competitive mid-table position, laying the groundwork for future breakthroughs.
Economic support from a local businessman helped stabilize the club when it faced a €360,000 debt, keeping operations afloat while the club competed in the third division. Since then, Eldense has achieved three consecutive promotions, evolving into a reference point for football in the province.
Announcing the new stadium was a watershed moment for Eldense, sending ripples through the national sports scene. The project includes a parking facility and an underground car park for about 3,000 vehicles, plus a hotel and commercial area to boost the local economy.
“HE Sweetie” notes that the Elda Town Hall and CD Eldense remain actively involved in advancing the stadium project on the current Pepico Amat Stadium site and its surrounding facilities, aligning with the club’s goals. The government team gave a green light to the plan, and while urban processing and necessary permits were initially uncertain, officials indicated they could be secured in due course (municipal statements, February 9).
Eldense is a notable visitor in the Second League
Since the initial announcements, the club has received formal backing from the Municipal Council and the Generalitat, yet concrete construction steps have not commenced. The only change at the site has been the rehabilitation of an annex building used for education. The total cost of the completed works by late November was around €180,000, a reminder of the ongoing investment required for the club’s ambitions. The Pepico Amat stadium complex remains the daily training ground for Barcelona players who pass through the area (municipal records, 2024).
When Finetwork Arena was first described, the plan was to progress in tandem with regional authorities. While progress has paused, collaboration with the Generalitat and the City Council continues. Eldense and its president have faced delays and shifting timelines, with officials suggesting a target completion in the years ahead, but not committing to a fixed date (city council minutes, 2024).
A city in the balance as the club pushes forward
The club has expressed some frustration with the city council over the costs of upkeep and modernization. Since the transition to professional football, Eldense has invested heavily in football infrastructure at Pepico Amat, including 1.8 million euros in renewals for the playing surfaces and facilities. The city has wrestled with how to fund renovations while ensuring public venues meet growing demand. Delays in updating the old Deportivo venue, which remains a municipal asset, have required careful planning and municipal action to align with safety and licensing requirements. Maintenance costs, already significant, continue to grow as investment in facilities compounds (municipal budget reports, 2023–2024).
City Council sponsorship arrangements have included support for Eldense, with a €660,000 commitment over two seasons tied to a campaign slogan. The club believes additional backing from entities like Finetwork Arena could further stabilize finances and accelerate development (city sponsorship records, 2024). The board of Eldense continues to explore broader collaboration for enhanced support in the project, particularly as the stadium and the surrounding shopping center would attract more visitors and opportunities for local brands (economic development reports, 2024).
As discussions evolved, plans for a mixed-use complex around the stadium — featuring a shopping center with brands such as McDonald’s, Primark, and Zara — began to shape the city’s economic prospects. With more tourists anticipated, discussions intensified around maximizing the venue’s impact on Eldense and the wider province. Today, Finetwork Arena remains the club’s most ambitious initiative, poised to redefine the future for both CD Eldense and the city it calls home (urban development briefings, 2024).