After the news that Cádiz began procedures to change the name of its stadium from Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla to Estadio Carranza, the Spanish government sent a letter to the City Council warning that the name change is illegal under the Historical and Democratic Memory Law.

Commerce or regime?

The letter from the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory indicates that this action is contrary to regulations prohibiting the exaltation of figures associated with the Franco regime. In this case, it refers to the connections of Ramón de Carranza, a former mayor of the city, with the 1936 coup. The Cádiz City Council responded through First Deputy Mayor José Manuel Cossi, arguing that Carranza is currently a commercial brand, detached from any political connotations.

According to these reports, Carranza is a registered trademark, not a direct reference to Ramón de Carranza. Felipe Barbosa, president of the Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory of Cádiz, stated that the proposed name change constitutes an abuse of law and announced actions to be taken in this regard.

The Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory of Cádiz declared that it does not understand the benefits of supporting the name change of the municipal stadium, especially after the government sent a letter reminding of its illegality. Cádiz CF, however, defends that Carranza is part of the club's identity and collective memory.

© mosi - always on tour

Change follows change

In 2021, the stadium historically known as Estadio Ramón de Carranza was renamed Nuevo Mirandilla in a public vote as a result of the Historical and Democratic Memory Law. The voters were adult citizens registered in Cádiz, who could choose from several options for the name change of the arena. Now, in 2024, the club, with the support of the City Council, has initiated administrative procedures to change its name again.