GIRONA, Spain – Passionate supporters of both Bàsquet Girona and Uni Girona CB have publicly expressed their frustration with the state of the Fontajau Pavilion, the home arena for both clubs. The fan groups, known as Engaviats (supporting the men’s team in the ACB league) and GirUnins (supporting the women’s team), have sent a strongly worded open letter to Girona’s mayor, Lluc Salellas and the city council, detailing their concerns over a lack of maintenance at the facility.
The immediate catalyst for the outcry was a power outage during a Lliga Femenina (Women’s League) game between Uni Girona and Casademont Saragossa on Friday, March 6, 2026. The game was halted for over 20 minutes with just 1 minute and 48 seconds remaining, due to an electrical fault outside the pavilion. According to reports, the current Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system is insufficient to maintain power to the arena’s aging lighting fixtures, which are over 30 years old. Restarting the lights after a power interruption takes a significant amount of time.
While a temporary fix – the acquisition of a more powerful UPS – was announced at a city council meeting on Monday, March 9, 2026, the fan groups argue this is merely a band-aid solution. They contend that the Fontajau Pavilion, which should be a source of civic pride, suffers from “unacceptable deficiencies,” particularly regarding consistent lighting problems stemming from a broader lack of upkeep.
“The neglect of Fontajau is no longer tolerable,” the letter states, demanding immediate action from Mayor Salellas and the Girona City Council. Engaviats and GirUnins emphasized the importance of both Girona basketball teams – the men’s team competing in the Liga Endesa (Spain’s top basketball league) and the women’s team established in the Lliga Femenina and competing in the EuroLeague – in projecting a positive image of the city. They highlighted the thousands of fans who attend games at Fontajau each week.
The groups specifically pointed to the lighting system, which hasn’t been updated since the pavilion’s inauguration in 1993. They questioned why successive city administrations have failed to invest in modern, efficient LED lighting suitable for professional competitions. The current situation, they argue, reflects poorly on a city that boasts teams competing at the highest levels of Spanish and European basketball.
Fontajau Pavilion, which opened on September 4, 1993, has a seating capacity of 5,500. It has hosted significant events in the past, including matches during the 1997 EuroBasket tournament and the 2007 FIBA EuroCup Final Four, which Akasvayu Girona (a previous iteration of the club) won. More recently, it hosted the Copa de la Reina de Baloncesto in 2017. The arena is also occasionally used for other sports, including indoor motorcycle trials and tennis matches.
The concerns raised by Engaviats and GirUnins extend beyond the lighting. While the letter focuses on this issue, the groups acknowledge other areas where the pavilion falls short of expectations. The aging infrastructure and lack of consistent maintenance are creating an increasingly frustrating experience for fans and potentially impacting the quality of events held at the venue.
The city council authorized expanded uses of the Fontajau pavilion to the Girona Basketball Club on September 19, 2025, paving the way for a future concession agreement. This move signaled a commitment to supporting the club, but the fan groups are now calling for that commitment to extend to the physical upkeep of the arena itself.
The situation at Fontajau underscores the challenges faced by many aging sports facilities. Balancing the demands of hosting professional teams, attracting fans, and maintaining a safe and modern environment requires ongoing investment and careful planning. For the supporters of Bàsquet Girona and Uni Girona CB, the time for action is now.
The next scheduled game at Fontajau will be a Liga Endesa matchup for Bàsquet Girona on March 15, 2026, against Valencia Basket. Fans will be closely watching to see if any immediate improvements have been made to address the concerns raised in the open letter. Updates on the city council’s plans for Fontajau are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
Archysport will continue to follow this story and provide updates as they turn into available.
