In the push to resolve the promotion dispute in the LaLiga SmartBank system, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) will back the club that has the strongest social base among all playoff contenders in the province. The plan is to promote at their home stadium, following a pattern seen last year when Badajoz introduced a new nursery concept, a move that echoed Coruna Sports at Riazor. The federation’s presidency will oversee a repeat of this approach in the upcoming days, with Rico Pérez as the focal venue. Public schedules for the various qualifiers will be released soon by Luis Rubiales, outlining the match order and logistics for the playoff rounds.
Hercules is assessing the actual demand for seating, noting that the stadium’s available capacity is one of five viable options capable of accommodating the club’s ticket holders, a number approaching 6,000 according to the City Council this year. To meet the needs, an official location request is being made to nearly 10,000 ticket holders as recorded by the federation.
The federation’s regulations specify that stadiums will be allocated based on the capacity requirements of each club. The venues with the greatest capacity will host matches with the highest demand. The capacity needs of each match will be determined by the total ticket requests from both semi-final contestants across the four scheduled fixtures.
This framework means clubs must precisely estimate how many passes are required for each match and may adjust pricing if initial sales are delayed. The RFEF regulation states clearly that tickets are non-refundable once requested.
If the per-seat price were set at 10 euros, Hercules would owe the federation 100,000, with two-thirds of the proceeds subsequently distributed between the opponent club and the organizing entity led by Rubiales. The number of seats allocated for promotion matches, including those held in Alicante, is controlled from Madrid and aims to sustain a predictable revenue stream for the federation.
The underlying goal is to encourage the largest possible flow of Hercules supporters to the blue and white home stadium, rewarding loyalty partners while maintaining a clear and transparent process. Although the exact method for issuing complimentary passes remains to be finalized, it appears the club may offer some free tickets to dedicated supporters, with the expectation that the overall distribution remains fair and proportional. In this context, a substantial contribution to the ticket pool is anticipated from those involved, even if the precise final allocation is still being shaped.
Forecasts around Sergio Mora’s squad challenging the promotion at Rico Pérez, a venue capable of seating more than 20,000 on business days, look more favorable than not. Yet the official guidance from the federation, delivered through a general secretary’s circular, remains the ultimate reference point for all procedural details and eligibility criteria.
All Hercules together calling for help
The broader narrative around the promotion process emphasizes unity among Hercules supporters and careful coordination with the federation to ensure a smooth, fair playoff experience for every participating club. The discussions cover ticketing logistics, stadium assignments, and the strategic incentives designed to maximize attendance and engagement across the playoff series.