Málaga City Council has reported an addendum to the agreement with the Regional Government of Andalucía to adjust the deadlines for the 25 million euro subsidy to the pace of the Auditorium's execution, which has a budget exceeding 200 million.
Málaga City Council approved this Tuesday in the Local Government Board an addendum to the agreement signed in December 2024 with the Regional Government of Andalucía for the construction of the Málaga Music Auditorium. The aim is to align the payment schedule of the direct subsidy of 25 million euros with the actual pace of the works, whose total budget exceeds 209 million.
The modification responds to the need to adapt the agreement to the results of the prior market consultation, initiated on June 8 by Mayor Francisco de la Torre. This consultation, which remains open in its final stretch, allows interested companies to know and adjust the bidding terms. It is worth remembering that the Auditorium's budget is above 200 million euros.
According to the planned schedule, the consultation will conclude in about three months, after which a two-month period will open for the awarding of contracts. De la Torre expressed optimism by stating that the works could begin in November, although he admitted that "we are going to be tight on time." With the expected delays, it is normal for the start to take place early next year, before the municipal elections.
The execution period is about 48 months, that is, four years. The management of the project and the bidding will fall to the municipal company Promálaga, which already manages the Palace of Fairs and Congresses (Fycma). Until now, the Urban Planning department was handling the management. De la Torre justified the change by citing Promálaga's experience with this type of facility.
The financing of the Auditorium includes 25 million from the Regional Government of Andalucía and 20 million from the City Council, of which almost 7 million have already been allocated. Additionally, the entity Cajamar has shown interest in naming the auditorium for 40 million euros, although it will have to undergo a public tender. The names of the main hall (15 million), the small hall (5 million), and the tour (5 million) will also be auctioned, totaling 65 million euros in naming rights, along with contributions from patronage companies.
The project, designed by architects Federico Soriano and Agustín Benedito following an international competition in 2008, includes an auditorium and lyrical stage space with a capacity for 1,622 seats for events and 1,743 for opera. It features a chamber hall with 465 seats, rehearsal rooms, a library, a sound archive, a restaurant, a shop, and 500 parking spaces.
De la Torre stated that no further funding will be requested from the Regional Government or the Provincial Council, and that the City Council will cover any deviations. The expectation is that the manager of the cultural centre will be decided halfway through the construction so that they can schedule the opening to coincide with the completion of the works.
The long-awaited Málaga Auditorium is shaping up to be a cultural landmark for the city, with a budget that places it among the largest cultural infrastructure projects in Andalucía.
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