Estadio Ibercaja has officially opened. While fans praise the comfort of the new venue, there has also been criticism — mainly concerning safety issues. On top of that, the debut match was played on a damaged pitch, made even worse… by rabbits.

"Better than in photos"

Estadio Ibercaja, the new temporary home of Real Zaragoza, was officially inaugurated on Thursday, July 24. Just a day later, thousands of supporters came to explore the stadium for themselves. On Friday, around 3,000 people had the opportunity to see the interior for the first time and take in the view from the east stand.

Reactions followed quickly. Social media filled with opinions, many of which were positive. I was surprised – it’s much better than in the photos, said one young fan. The seats are wider and more modern than at La Romareda, added another.

A father and son, both season ticket holders, described the stadium as very good and in line with their expectations. However, they also noted some serious drawbacks, In the summer we’ll be roasting, and later we’ll suffer from the wind.

© Real Zaragoza

"Everything shakes"

While many visitors appreciated the modern and comfortable design, there was a growing sense of concern. The most common criticism focused on the lack of safety features on the upper sections of the stands. It feels a bit unsafe, said one local resident, suggesting that handrails be installed on the stairways leading to the top rows.

Another young supporter observed that everything shakes. This impression of instability was echoed by many demanding fans who expressed worries about overall safety. Other comments were more measured, focusing instead on the sporting side of the project. What I’m waiting for is to watch some football, said one fan, hoping that this will be the ground where Real Zaragoza finally earns promotion.

Match in shadow of rabbits and sand

The new stadium was put to the test on Saturday in a friendly match between Real Zaragoza and Deportivo Aragón (6–0). However, the game was held behind closed doors, and the pitch – despite being newly installed – was far from perfect. The reason? Rabbits.

A mass influx of rabbits in recent weeks caused serious damage to the turf. While they didn’t feed on the grass, they ruined it by digging and burrowing. On top of that, the pitch suffered from placement issues and extreme temperatures during installation. As a result, 20% of the turf had to be replaced – fortunately, under warranty.

During the match, clouds of sand kicked up with every movement of the ball, causing concern among observers. While the club considered delaying the stadium’s debut, the coaching staff ultimately decided it was better to start adapting to the new surface right away – after all, this will be the team’s home for the next two seasons.

© Real Zaragoza

What’s next for Estadio Ibercaja?

With just a few weeks to go until the start of the league season (the first home game is on August 23 against FC Andorra), the stadium still requires some finishing touches. Three corner sections are yet to be closed off, and certain seats will need to be removed due to LaLiga visibility requirements. These seats are located in the highest rows, near the media box.

In addition, according to league regulations, the windows in the press booths must remain closed, preventing any outside sound from being heard – a restriction that has disappointed many journalists.