The Thorn In The Side Of LaLiga’s Fan Experience

The build up to a new season should be one of excitement and anticipation. Fans eagerly make plans and anticipate what is to come. On the field, the players push themselves to the limit, as was the case for Rayo Vallecano as they opened the season with a 2-1 victory over Almería on Friday night.

Yet, for those who commit themselves to supporting Rayo, donning their famous red lightning bolt across a white jersey, fan experience is a mere afterthought.

It wasn’t until just one week before the season kicked off that the club released information on season tickets and new kits. Seven days notice were given to fans, a far cry from the months of planning and heavy investment in marketing that is prepared by many of Spain’s other top clubs.

It’s sadly nothing new for Rayo fans. Last summer, season ticket information was shared 10 days before the start of the season, with new sales unavailable until after the season had already started, with no online purchase option.

When tickets did eventually go on sale, fans reported being turned away after up to nine hours queuing outside the stadium. Police were called and forced to intervene to quell the anger of fans, understandably furious after spending nine hours queuing in Madrid’s August heat for nothing.

Opposition to club president Raúl Martín Presa

Fans have not held back in voicing their dissent of the management of the club by president Raúl Martín Presa. The local businessman came to the club’s presidency to replace Teresa Rivero Sánchez-Romate in 2011 as he bought out 97.82% of shares for €961,660 ($1,054,412), and has only enraged supporters ever since.

Presa has sparked opposition through numerous incidents, none more so than his invitation to Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right political party VOX, to attend a game in the director’s box. Rayo’s fanbase have long been politically left-leaning, with one of their songs including the line, “for our revolutionary Rayo, all fascists get out of Vallecas”.

He has also been criticized for his management of the women’s team. “Presa has been trying to sink the women’s team since he arrived and has let it die,” former captain Alicia Gómez said. Instead, he focused much of his attention on a project in the US, Rayo Oklahoma City, which quickly ended in failure.

When fans are able to attend the Estadio de Vallecas, it is common to hear chants of “Presa leave now” and see the Bukaneros fan group donning shirts and scarves with a picture of Presa wearing Mickey Mouse-style ears. “He’s united the area, everyone agrees that he is public enemy number one,” one fan explained.

Stadium left to decay

It is no surprise then, that the Estadio de Vallecas is the only stadium in LaLiga not to have undergone any building work or modernization this summer. LaLiga’s deal with CVC has given substantial funds to clubs, and 19 out of 20 teams have invested in the modernization of their stadium. The one that hasn’t is Rayo Vallecano.

Works at Vallecas have been done to upgrade drainage and the turf of the field at the stadium, but there has been no public indication of works on the stadium that would impact fans.

It comes as the club continue to outline a desire to renew or move to a new stadium, working alongside the local authorities who rent the arena to the club. More details are expected to be unveiled as part of the club’s centenary celebrations later this season.

“The new stadium is fundamental so that all the rayistas can come and continue to grow economically,” Presa told Radio MARCA in February. “The capacity could be around 20,000 or 25,000 spectators. The idea would be to make it as close as possible to the current location of the Vallecas Stadium. We would like to continue on Avenida de la Albufera.”

While LaLiga makes big steps in pushing their clubs to improve the fan experience, with significant investment in technology, Rayo Vallecano remain firmly rooted in the past.