While many football fans flock to the iconic venues in La Liga, there’s a whole world of passion, history, and character beyond the top tier.
In this blog, we are exploring the stadiums of historic football teams that are now competing in the lower leagues of the Spanish football league system.
Estadio Nueva Condomina – Real Murcia CF
The Estadio Nueva Condomina is the home of Real Murcia CF. It opened in 2006 and has a seating capacity of 31,000, making it the largest stadium in the Spanish 3rd division.
The club holds the record for the most Segunda División titles, with eight championships. They have spent 18 seasons in Primera División.
Estadio José Rico Pérez – Hércules CF
The Estadio José Rico Pérez, located in Alicante, serves as the home ground for Hércules CF.
Opened in 1974, The stadium has a seating capacity of approximately 30,000 spectators and has hosted significant events, including matches during the 1982 FIFA World Cup.
Throughout its history, Hércules CF has experienced fluctuating fortunes, alternating between Spain’s top divisions. The club has spent 20 seasons in La Liga finishing 5th in 1975 but since 2014 they have been competing between the Spanish 3rd and 4th divisions.
Estadio Nuevo Colombino – Real Club Recreativo de Huelva
Real Club Recreativo de Huelva, commonly known as Recre, holds the distinction of being Spain’s oldest football club, founded in 1889.
The club achieved promotion to La Liga, Spain’s top football division, for the first time in the 1978–79 season and again in the 2002–03 and 2005–06 seasons. A significant achievement was reaching the Copa del Rey final in 2003. Recre has been playing in the lower leagues since 2015.
Their home Estadio Nuevo Colombino, opened in 2001 and can hold 21,600 people.
Estadio Municipal de Chapín – Xerez Club Deportivo, Xerez Deportivo Fútbol Club
With a capacity of around 20,000 the Estadio Municipal de Chapín, is the biggest in the Spanish 4th division.
Built in 1988, is the home of Xerez Club Deportivo and Xerez Deportivo Fútbol Club.
In 2009 Xerez Club Deportivo secured promotion to La Liga for the first time in its history.
The Xerez Deportivo Fútbol Club was founded in 2013 and they have never progressed above the Segunda Federación (4th tier).
Estadio Helmántico – UD Salamanca
The Estadio Helmántico, located in Villares de la Reina near Salamanca, Spain, is a football stadium with a seating capacity of 17,341 spectators.
Opened in 1970, it has served as the home ground for UD Salamanca who have played in the La Liga 12 times. The club was defunct in 2013 and is now used by Salamanca Club de Fútbol of the Segunda Federation (4th tier).
Estadio Verónica Boquete de San Lázaro – SD Compostela
The Estadio Municipal Verónica Boquete de San Lázaro, is a multi-purpose stadium in Santiago de Compostela. It is used as the home ground of the 4th division club SD Compostela and has a capacity of 16,000.
The club spent 4 seasons in La Liga between 1994 to 1998. Following relegation from La Liga, SD Compostela faced successive relegations, eventually descending to the 8th tier of Spanish football.
Estadio Las Gaunas – Unión Deportiva Logroñés
The Estadio Las Gaunas serves as the home ground for Unión Deportiva Logroñés. Inaugurated in 2002, the stadium has a seating capacity of approximately 16,000 spectators.
The club was established in 2009 after Club Deportivo Logroñés was dissolved due to financial difficulties. In the 2020 season, they were promoted to Segunda División, but now they compete in the fourth division.
The old club debuted in the Primera Division in the 1987 edition and remained for eight consecutive years until its relegation in 1994-95. It then briefly returned in 1996-97.
Estadio Romano – AD Mérida
The Estadio Romano opened in 1954 and has a seating capacity of 14,600 spectators. It is operated by AD Mérida.
AD Mérida, officially known as Asociación Deportiva Mérida, S.A.D., was founded on February 19, 2013, as a successor to CP Mérida. The club currently competes in the third-tier Primera División RFEF.
The predecessor club, Club Polideportivo Mérida played twice in La Liga (1995–96 and 1997–98) and was dissolved in 2000.
Nou Estadi Costa Daurada – Gimnàstic de Tarragona
Gimnàstic de Tarragona, commonly known as Nàstic competes in the 3rd Division. The team enjoyed a three-year La Liga spell in the late 40s and one in 2007.
The club’s home matches are held at the Nou Estadi Costa Daurada which opened in 1972 and seats 14,591 spectators.
Estadio Reino de León – Cultural Leonesa
Cultural Leonesa currently plays in the third tier of Spanish football and hosts its home games at the Estadio Reino de León, which has a seating capacity of 13,400.
Their most notable achievement came in 1955 when they were promoted to La Liga. However, their stint was short-lived, lasting only one season.
Estadio de Pasarón – Pontevedra CF
The Estadio de Pasarón is the home of Pontevedra Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. of the Spanish 4th division. During the 1960s the club played in the the top division for 6 seasons reaching the 7th place in 1966.
The original stadium was inaugurated in 1965 and was remodeled in 2006. It has a capacity of 12,000 spectators.
Camp d’Esports – Lleida Esportiu
The Camp d’Esports opened in 1919 and has a seating capacity of 13,500. It underwent significant renovations in 1994 and has been the home of Unió Esportiva Lleida (UE Lleida) and its successor, Lleida Esportiu.
The first has played in two La Liga seasons and dissolved in 2011. The second competes on the Segunda Federación, the fourth tier of the Spanish football league system.
Estadi de la Nova Creu Alta – CE Sabadell FC
The Estadi de la Nova Creu Alta is the home of CE Sabadell FC.
Opened in 1967 it now holds 12,000 people. Notably, during the 1992 Summer Olympics, the stadium hosted six football matches.
Sabadell is the third Catalan club behind Barcelona and Espanyol with the most seasons in the Primera División with 14.
Estadio Municipal de La Victoria – Real Jaén CF
The Estadio Municipal de La Victoria is the home stadium of Real Jaén CF, a team that plays in the Spanish 5th Division.
It was inaugurated in 2001 and can hold 12,500 people.
In its history, Real Jaén has played 3 seasons in the First Division and 16 seasons in the Second Division.
Estadio Nuevo Vivero – Club Deportivo Badajoz
The only club in the list that has never played in the top tier is the Club Deportivo Badajoz. The club has spent 20 seasons in Segunda División with the last being in 2003.
The club’s home matches are held at the Estadio Nuevo Vivero, which has a seating capacity of approximately 16,000 spectators which makes it the biggest in the Spanish 5th division.
Estadio Francisco de la Hera – CD Extremadura 1924
The Estadio Francisco de la Hera is the home of Club Deportivo Extremadura 1924 a 5th division team. The original stadium opened in 1951. In 1996, it was demolished and rebuilt to modern standards, with a seating capacity of 11,500.
The predecessor club, CF Extremadura played twice in La Liga (1996–97 and 1998–99) and was dissolved in 2010.
