Licampa 1617, the company of the Valencian businessman Juan Roig, has decided to change the name of the pavilion it is building in Valencia to Roig Arena.
What was previously going to be the Casal España Arena de València, a multipurpose venue, changes its name due to the need, they explain from society, to "establish a clear, simple, identifiable name that recognizes the legacy of Juan Roig and his family ".
The previous nomenclature had been the result of certain tensions in the city. After signing the agreements with the Valencia City Council, which ceded the plot on which the pavilion now stands to him for 50 years, Roig announced that the name of the venue would be Casal España Arena.
The announcement annoyed Mayor Joan Ribó and some councilors, who lamented that with this denomination the reference to the name of the city was lost and they began conversations with Roig and his entourage to reconsider the decision. Finally in August 2020 the final name was "Casal España Arena de València".
The already future Roig Arena, which has a budget of more than 280 million euros, fully paid for by Juan Roig with his personal assets, will host events of all kinds, positioning Valencia and the Valencian Community internationally.
It is, according to the company, the model followed by other initiatives such as Marina de Empresas, Trinidad Alfonso Foundation, Valencia Basket and L'Alqueria del Basket, which seek to "share with the city of Valencia and the Community part of how much she receives, because knowledge and money give happiness... if you share them”.
The works of the enclosure are currently in their second phase of execution -the one focused on the concrete and metal structure, roof, facade and floor slabs- after completing the first phase, focused on excavation, piling, screen walls and slab of foundation Phase 3 is yet to start, focused on finishing the Arena.
In addition to the construction of the Roig Arena venue, the execution of complementary infrastructures is planned to revitalize the neighborhood, such as the car park with more than 1,000 spaces that is already under construction, the future public park with green areas, the new headquarters of the Valencia Basket Club , a multipurpose room for multiple availability of 1,200 square meters, the restaurant areas, and a wide range of seats, terraces and premium areas. Added to all this are the already inaugurated facilities of the public school "Les Arts" in Valencia.
