Iberostar Estadi

The Iberostar Estadi (originally Son Moix, alternatively Iberostar Estadio) is the home of Spanish football team Real Mallorca. It was purpose built for the ’99 Universiade and opened in June 1999. It is a multi-purpose sports stadia but is primarily used by the Balearic club for football. The club reached an agreement with Palma City Council to allow the Los Bermellones to use the stadium for a 50 year period.

The stadium is located in the industrial area of Can Valero de Palma. It seats 23,142 spectators and 300 journalists. It was renamed to ONO Estadi in 2006 in a sponsorship deal with the Spanish communications company worth around £3.2 million in total and expiring in the summer of 2010.

The deal to rename the stadium Iberostar Estadi signed in August 2010 is worth alot less than the ONO deal, bringing in a mere £850,000.

The root of no support

Some local fans certainly seem to believe that the Iberostar Estadi is the cause of the club’s attendance issue – usually only around 11,000 attendees.

Not quite following the extreme path of the MK Dons, Mallorca moved a couple of kilometres outside of the city centre when they left their home of sixty years in Estadio Lluís Sitjar when they moved to Son Moix in 1999.

But in early 2011, club president Jaume Cladera admitted Son Moix was not ‘fit for purpose’. He commented that the running track impaired the view of the pitch for all supporters, ruining any potential atmosphere. He also commented that the comfort of the stadium was not of a high enough standard for elder spectators.

Because of this, the club are looking to regenerate and return to their original Es Fortí home.