Sports plans to expand Raúl Mesa pavilion with new stands and changing rooms and improve accessibility

Benidorm City Council, through the Department of Sports, plans to expand  'Raúl Mesa' pavilion and improve accessibility to this sports venue, with the creation of a new area of ​​stands in whose basement there will be changing rooms and toilets. This has been announced today by the mayor, Toni Pérez, who pointed out that “this action also provides for the replacement of the roof of the pavilion, with the aim of solving the humidity problem that this sports facility presents and that is largely due to the age of the enclosure, in operation for more than 35 years ”.

Toni Pérez explained that "today the Informative Commission of the Internal Regime has ruled a proposal to request from Alicante Provincial Council a subsidy of 294,360.50 euros to carry out these works, valued at about 570,000 euros." Specifically, the City Council will participate in the call for 'Plan + Cerca 2020', requesting the maximum eligible amount that according to the rules could correspond to Benidorm due to its population.

The mayor has detailed that the expansion of the pavilion "would be made to the north, occupying the existing municipal land behind the stands of 'Guillermo Amor' football stadium to the border with Vasco Núñez de Balboa school" . To guarantee accessibility in all this space, the current elevation would be lowered to the level of the track, thus avoiding steps and ramps.

The new stands, which would multiply the capacity of the pavilion, have been projected in this expanded area. On the ground floor of the new bleachers, in turn, it is proposed to create adapted and fully accessible public toilets, two changing rooms for athletes and another two for collegiate, and warehouses. Also, the new roof will have skylights to make the most of natural light.

Toni Pérez has indicated that "we are talking about a very important action in the future, since according to the report of this action, drawn up by municipal technicians, the planned investment would allow the pavilion's useful life to be extended by at least 25 years".

The mayor has clarified that “our objective is to make this extension and improve the accessibility of 'Raúl Mesa' pavilion this year, so in case of not obtaining the requested subsidy, it will be the City Council that will assume 100% of the cost of the play".