The Eibar City Council is currently negotiating a four-match professional pelota package to restore fixtures at the historic Astelena fronton. Municipal officials and promotion representatives met two weeks ago and moved closer to an agreement that would bring back high-level professional matches to the venue.
Talks Target San Andres Festival Return on November 30
Negotiations center on securing the traditional San Andres festival on November 30, alongside three additional fixtures scheduled for Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and San Juan. The city council is awaiting a formal proposal from the promotion company to finalize the schedule, which could see additional dates added in the future. Professional pelota has been absent from the Astelena fronton since June 24, when a San Juan festival match saw Laso and Albisu defeat Zabala and Martija 22-19. That San Juan festival followed a nearly six-month absence in fixtures that began after two Parejas matches hosted on January 1, featuring Laso and Albisu against Zabala and Martija, and on January 6, featuring Altuna III and Ezkurdia against Peio Etxeberia and Rezusta.
Contract Model Changes Following Aspe Acquisition
Professional pelota fixtures at the Astelena declined significantly after Fernando Vidarte sold his majority shares in Aspe to Grupo Bainet, leaving only three festivals held at the venue so far this year and causing deep concern among local fans who feared the cancellation of the traditional San Andres festival. The change in ownership altered the promotional contracting model, introducing a canon fee that municipal authorities initially opposed. Despite these financial disagreements, recent meetings have narrowed the gap between the two sides, clearing a path toward a renewed calendar.
Decades-Long Venue Legacy and Recent Facility Upgrades
The Eibar City Council has owned the Astelena facility since 2005 and recently completed maintenance work between August and September, spending 20,500 euros to clean and paint the fronton. While the venue hosted regional competitions such as the Interpueblos, territorial championships, and an Emakumeen Master Cup match on March 22, it missed out on major professional tournaments like the Manomanista—with unperformed works cited as the excuse during the championship—and the Cuatro y Medio, renewing attention from area fans. In this century, the venue only missed hosting the Manomanista in 2021 due to its use as a pandemic vaccination center, in 2005 and 2006 due to owner closures, and during renovation periods in 2015 and 2022.
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