Getafe CF president Ángel Torres Sánchez has recently signed a new agreement with the city regarding the rental of their current venue. It appears that as part of the long-term deal, there will most likely be a change in its name.

Los Azulones have established themselves as a solid La Liga mid-tier team over the last two decades. Since 2004, they have only had to play in the Segunda Division once – in the 2016/2017. A quick comeback and very good running of the club meant that just two years later, the team from the Madrid suburbs was close to playing in the Champions League. They eventually finished fifth in the table, losing two points to fourth-placed Valencia. For nearly 20 years, matches against rivals such as Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have been followed by Getafe fans from the stands of Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. It seems that the days of the name of this arena are counted. 

© The Hausmeister's Groundhopping

The team authorities have recently reached an agreement with the city council that will let them use the stadium for the next 40 years as part of the lease, with the possibility of an additional 10 years. There are several important points in the agreement that are of great importance to both parties. The fee for the use of the facility will go towards renovation work commissioned by the club. Getafe CF will also assume all maintenance expenses and the cost of upgrading the systems for the duration of the rent. 

The most interesting point, however, is the one which allows the change of the name of the arena and the rights to it to be sold to the title sponsor. However, the city has stipulated that the word “Coliseum” will remain. This means that Alfonso Pérez Muñoz will soon cease to be the stadium's patron. The former Spanish national team member, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona player was born in Getafe, but he has never played a single minute for the team as a senior. The facility has been named after him since 1998, when he was chosen in a popular vote of supporters. In his later years, he did not associate himself with Los Azulones either as a footballer or as a coach nor did he visit the arena, whose name commemorates his character and career, as a normal supporter.

© The Hausmeister's Groundhopping

This behavior by Pérez Muñoz has caused Torres Sánchez to dislike him. For years, he had resented the fact that the name of his team's house came from the surname of a person not identified with it in any way. Now there is a gateway to getting rid of a troublesome patron and, in addition, making money out of it. Such a change after 25 years raises almost no objections from the Getafe FC community. The club would like to invest the money earned in this way, as well as the funds that will come to it from LaLiga (a high-profile deal struck between the league authorities and the CVC Capital Partners), in upgrading the stadium. The plans include the construction of a canopy over all four stands.