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Still Discovering Spain...

Here for over 25 years and I still discover new things every day...

A hidden treasure
Monday, January 25, 2016 @ 12:00 PM

 

Boxed in by buildings on all sides, the ruins of Madrid's Frontón Beti-Jai sports complex is a hidden relic right in the heart of a bustling modern city.

Originally built in 1894, the arena was one of many in the city, all built to answer the demand of a populace who were crazed about sports. Four floors of audience stands were built, curving in a j-shape at one end of the field, able to accommodate around 4,000 spectators. In addition to sports, the arena saw concerts, horse shows, and political rallies among other events. The Beti-Jai Fronton is the last of its kind still standing and the oldest commercial Fronton stadium in Spain. It marked the beginning of professional sport in Spain and was unique in it's architecture and design. A true sporting treasure.

Unfortunately the fun and games came to an end in 1936 when the civil war broke out and the former sports complex was converted into a makeshift police station. This would be the last time the space was actually used. By the late 1970s the inter-urban space had been abandoned.

Despite a number of failed rehabilitation proposals over the year, the Frontón Beti-Jai still lies empty today....   

 



Like 1




2 Comments


DAVE said:
Saturday, January 30, 2016 @ 8:08 AM

Where exactly in Madrid??


toolman2 said:
Monday, February 1, 2016 @ 3:58 PM

I have found it on a tourist website, http://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/fronton-beti-jai and if you write this address in Google Earth you will easily find it and there are some more photographs, the address is Calle Marqués de Riscal, 728010, Madrid. What a great shame it has been left to ruin. The artistry in the building is beautiful and deserves to be saved. I thought that if restored and safe for customers again it would make a wonderful panoramic movie theatre where the long blank wall opposite the seating could be a screen, maybe showing great sporting events. Putting the venue back to good use again would preserve it better than just being an over large museum piece.


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