The Junta de Andalucía has submitted to the Spanish Football Federation Seville’s candidacy to host the next four Copa del Rey finals. Specifically, the Andalusian Government has proposed the La Cartuja stadium as the venue for these four finals in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, since the Federation opened the deadline last December to host candidacies for the Cup final, which you want it to be for four years. Seville will fight with the option of the Wanda, the Atlético de Madrid stadium, which has also shown its availability to host these Cup finals.
The Minister of Education and Sports of the Junta de Andalucía, Javier Imbroda, has exposed it to the media at a working breakfast. “How is it possible that we have closed a stadium five stars?”, affirmed the Andalusian leader, putting his finger on the sore spot in the current situation of the Sevillian stadium, which is closed to sports practice as it is under construction due to conservation problems on its roof. However, Imbroda has indicated that if the Federation, next Friday, decides to accept the Sevillian candidacy, the stadium will host the final without problems. “If they give it to us, we will put on the helmet and arrive,” Imbroda assured. The Sevillian candidacy has the endorsement of the Board, the Seville City Council and the yes of the Provincial Council is pending. The next final of the Copa del Rey, which this week is playing the 1/16 round, will take place on April 18, since the calendar is very compressed this year due to the celebration of the European Championship. Ministry sources are aware of the strength of Wanda’s candidacy, although they wish to promote the recovery and use of the Seville stadium. The Andalusian authorities also contemplate the possibility of sharing with Wanda the next four editions of the Cup final (two for each one) if their candidacy is not chosen in the first instance.
The La Cartuja stadium was inaugurated in 1999 and was the venue for the World Athletics Championships, held that same year in the capital of Andalusia. It had a cost of 20,000 million pesetas. Already in 1999 it hosted the Cup final between Atlético de Madrid and Valencia. It was also the venue for the final of the 2001 edition, held between Zaragoza and Celta de Vigo. In addition, the Cartuja stadium was the venue for the UEFA Cup final between Celtic Glasgow and Porto. The scene of numerous concerts and events, the Seville stadium also played the Davis Cup final between Spain and Argentina in 2011. The La Cartuja stadium has a capacity of 57,000 spectators and the Board considers that the facility, together with the infrastructure hotel company in Seville, are the basis of a magnificent candidacy. Andalusia, specifically Malaga, hosts next month the final of the Copa del Rey basketball between February 13 and 16.