Future tender for the new administrative concession corresponding to the rehabilitation, comprehensive reform and commercial exploitation of the city Rocío Jurado de la Cartuja Hall constitutes an indisputable ray of hope for this emblematic building of the 1992 World Expo which, despite … Its role in the aforementioned exhibition and in the collective memory of the city due to the parties it hosted, is currently truly in ruins.
On the occasion of the first anniversary of the major fire that caused massive damage inside the building, which the Seville City Council has just regained control of. After more than two years of litigation with TCM Audiovisión, the former manager of the venue And he appealed the termination of his management contract due to non-payment of approximately $1.5 million to municipal coffers; ABC visited the Rocío Jurado Hall again, emphasizing the significant investments needed to revitalize it.
This hall was opened in September 1991 by the artist Rocio Jurado, the singer who performed the most on this majestic stage, and it was the scene of wonderful concerts and performances that took place in… World Expo 1992.
It was in January 2022 when Seville’s TCM Audiovisión, which had for years been managing the long-awaited Palenque venue for Expo 92, took over management of the hall, through a contract signed with Former State Asset Management Company (Agesa)with a validity period of 30 years.
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But that contract was terminated long before. In 2006, ownership of the hall passed to the Seville City Council, which in July 2022 agreed to terminate the aforementioned contract despite the fact that it still had almost ten more years of validity, as TCM owed a debt of about 1.5 million euros to the municipal coffers for unpaid rent and property taxes. Although TCM appealed the termination due to an administrative lawsuit, and achieved a precautionary stay of the procedure, the courts ended up ruling in his favor. From the council, which regained full ownership of the building in October 2024.
From there the story is known, because it was announced on the night of November 30 of that year A massive fire inside the hall reached a height of six metresThis came after complaints had already been received about break-ins and looting in the building’s facilities. It was burned in this way into this symbolic legacy of the exhibition era.
In those days, as the incident was very topical because it reflected the state of this facility that had already been inactive for more than two years, the city mayor, José Luis Sanz, indicated that it was arson, with the city council approving his appearance as a special charge in Procedures brought by Investigative Court No. 3 in this regard.
Although the city council hired Seleco Vigilancia for 255,848 euros to carry out round-the-clock security work in the building, the fact is that on September 23 of this year, The fire returned to the heart of the hall Part of the bleachers seats were burned, as part of a series of fires announced at that time in that area of the Cartoga region.
Today, as this newspaper confirmed. Visit to the interior of the Rocío Jurado Hall It clearly reflects the urgent need for significant investment in this space, before considering its reintegration into cultural activity.
Because although the hall retains all the grandeur and encapsulation of its character as a first-class musical infrastructure, with its capacity to seat nearly 8,000 people, a walk through its facilities reveals a stark scenario of dilapidation, a consequence of its condition.Problems of abandonment and the consequences of break-ins, vandalism, looting and fires, which currently has a 24-hour monitoring service.
Beyond the dirtiness inherent in its lack of use, a visit to the interior of the hall reflects imperfections of all kinds in many of the spaces, with Dr.Disintegration of materials, and accumulation of waste such as drink cans, plastic cups, or any piece of clothingOr broken glass, boxes, an umbrella or even blankets; Perhaps as a result of spending the night inside this cultural space.
The terraces, with chairs and designer materials already outdated in the 21st century, are especially present This is the sector whose seats were completely burned as a result of the fire last September 23as well as metal panels and other elements that are supposed to be separate from the aerial structures that hover over this area and the stage, and which are supported by the buildings located at the northern and southern ends of the venue.
It is even possible to easily notice the remains of fires in the rooms attached to the central space Burnt materials and blackened walls due to fire; Plus loose wires and disconnected bulbs And broken glass in almost all the windows.
The few areas of the fence that were neglected but escaped destruction are on the other side It has been worn down by the ravages of the harsh Seville sun and the hardships of the weatherSo that there is no looking at the building that does not see destruction, garbage or abandonment.
It is not necessary to make a great deductive effort to arrive at the conclusion, in general, that the new operation of this once great cultural facility, Palace of Music in La Cartujawill require an investment of $1 million to give new life to this indispensable place for Seville both for what it represents in relation to the past and for its potential for the future.