The Benicalap pavilion stood as one of the few elements where the Meriton project aligned with the City Council’s plans, even as the wider economic reality stretched away from the project. What follows is a conversation landscape that SUPERDEPORTE opens to public scrutiny, with the same editorial group behind this newspaper and Prensa Ibérica sharing an audio series about New Mestalla, a topic that centers on sports and the club’s forthcoming milestones.
“We will hand the sports center to someone else, as in the original plan. We pay 5.7 plus VAT. They want a 9 million sports center. Let them have it; I’ll pay 5.7,” explains the institution’s head. In Anil Murthy’s statements, the remark that sounded like a dig at neighbors underscores the friction surrounding the project.
It remains surprising, though not entirely unexpected. The president of the institution weighs in, describing an attempt to trim the 9 million payment discussed with politicians. In short, one of the initiatives designed to be settled and aligned with broader goals runs into a snag when Meriton’s roadmap changes direction.
The price cut from 9 million to 5.7 million is a clear signal that the business stands in a position of strength with both Generalitat and the City Council. These buildings, in logical terms, represent a civic favor to Valencia. But such favors are not free, and terms matter.
Thus, the institutions have pressed to comply with the agreed framework and to maintain the earlier price discussions, resisting changes Meriton sought without consultation or dialogue. The statement leaves little doubt: the demand was for a 9 million sports center, and the counter is a commitment to 5.7 million as the practical settlement.
The narrative underscores a broader pattern where negotiations unfold in public and private sectors alike. The Meriton project, positioned within a web of municipal and regional planning, faces the lived reality of price debates and project prioritization. The interplay between development ambitions, budget constraints, and the politics of local governance continues to shape how such projects advance or stall. The situation illustrates how public institutions and private developers navigate the balance between cost control, perceived value, and the timing of investments that touch the urban fabric and the community around Valencia. In this context, the people involved, including city officials, developers, and residents, weigh how much weight should be given to a streamlined plan versus a plan that accommodates broader public feedback and long-term city strategy. The outcome, as observers note, will reflect both the economic pressures at play and the political will to keep large-scale projects on track while honoring commitments already made to stakeholders. Overall, the episode serves as a case study in how urban development can oscillate between fiscal prudence and strategic vision, and how the details of a single sports center can symbolize a larger conversation about growth, accountability, and shared space in Valencia.