In a dramatic about-face, Getafe CF has opted to resume the demolition of the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez's main stand, scrapping the temporary reprieve that accompanied their surprise qualification for the UEFA Conference League. The Azulones had initially suspended work on the tribune area to minimize disruption during their European campaign, but club executives have now decided that reverting to the original construction schedule is essential for the long-term modernization of the venue.
The decision marks a return to the initial roadmap laid out before the team's late-season surge secured continental football. With the stadium overhaul already underway—parts of the north end had been taken down earlier this year—the pause was seen as a pragmatic concession to avoid forcing the squad to play amidst the worst of the construction chaos. However, the latest move signals that Getafe is willing to endure short-term pain for the transformative gains of a fully refurbished ground.
The tribune section houses critical infrastructure: the home and away dressing rooms, the player tunnel, press areas, media tribune, and a club cafeteria. Demolishing it will strip the stadium of its operational core, forcing the club to rapidly devise and install alternative arrangements. The tunnel for players, for instance, is reportedly being relocated to the south goal-end, while temporary modular units are expected to handle media and hospitality functions.
Fans and pundits alike will question whether such upheaval could destabilize the team’s form, especially with Thursday-night Conference League fixtures adding to an already grueling calendar. Getafe’s style under manager José Bordalás—characterized by intense, disruptive football—thrives on the raucous atmosphere of a compact Coliseum. Playing in a semi-construction site might dilute that edge, but the club appears to be banking on the payoff of a state-of-the-art facility that meets modern standards and can generate higher matchday revenues.
The initial pause was announced quietly after the club clinched a top-seven finish in LaLiga, a feat that outshone modest expectations. Board members and the coaching staff jointly considered the logistical nightmare of European home matches without permanent dressing rooms or media zones. Yet, after reassessing the project timeline, the hierarchy concluded that any delay now would cascade into next summer, potentially jeopardizing the 2027-28 season preparations as well.
Construction on the south stand and the side flank is reportedly on track to be structurally ready by the start of the 2026-27 campaign, with seating frameworks already being installed. That offers some relief: at least two stands should be operational for fans, although the north end—still an excavation zone—is not expected to be completed until the winter break. The scrambled schedule means Getafe will likely request their early-season fixtures to be played away from home, a common practice for clubs undergoing stadium redevelopment.
In European competition, however, such requests are harder to negotiate. UEFA’s regulations demand that participating clubs have a designated home stadium that meets Category 4 requirements, including permanent media and VIP facilities. Getafe may need to secure a temporary venue if the Coliseum cannot pass inspections. A previous example is FC Barcelona’s use of the Estadi Olímpic during Camp Nou renovations, though that was a planned, season-long relocation. Getafe’s situation is more ad-hoc, adding uncertainty.
The club has not officially commented on whether a temporary ground has been identified, but the Coliseum’s location in the Madrid suburb makes the nearby Wanda Metropolitano or even the Estadio de Vallecas logical, if unlikely, alternatives. More plausibly, they could push for UEFA dispensation, allowing them to play home legs in a stadium that is still under construction, provided safety standards are met. The clock is ticking: Conference League qualifiers begin in late July, leaving barely two months to present a compliant venue.
Local supporters have expressed mixed feelings. Some lament the loss of the traditional tribune, which holds decades of memories from top-flight battles and unforgettable nights against giants like Barcelona and Real Madrid. Others recognize that the Coliseum, built in 1998, has long been in need of renovation to keep pace with LaLiga’s commercial demands. The new design promises improved sightlines, corporate boxes, and fan zones—elements that could attract a new generation of azulones.
From a financial perspective, advancing the demolition aligns with Getafe’s ambition to increase non-matchday revenue. Modern stadia with conference facilities and retail space can generate income streams that small-town clubs desperately need to compete. The Conference League prize money—while valuable—pales in comparison to the potential long-term uplift of a modernized home. By pressing ahead, Getafe might also avoid the inflated construction costs that delay and inflation could bring.
The coming days will be pivotal as the heavy machinery moves into the tribune. The club has promised to communicate the phasing of relocations transparently, with the new tunnel location in the south goal-end as the first tangible change. For now, the project’s acceleration underlines a bold, perhaps risky, bet: that the short-term sporting disruption will be outweighed by the foundations of a more prosperous future at the Coliseum.
Based on reporting from Marca.
