Coalición Canaria Faces Internal Crisis Over CD Tenerife Stadium Relocation Dispute

Coalición Canaria is facing a major internal test following a dispute over the future of the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium. According to Diario de Avisos, Santa Cruz Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez has drawn a political red line after Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo suggested moving the Club Deportivo Tenerife headquarters out of the capital.

The tension began when the regional government questioned the capacity and suitability of the current stadium, especially after the La Laguna City Council offered land for a new site. In response, Bermúdez has suggested he may reconsider his future with the nationalist party if the stadium’s historic location is not protected. He argues that moving the club would be an insult to Santa Cruz’s status as the capital, insisting that the century-old bond between the city and the team is a heritage asset that should not be sacrificed for political convenience.

Bermúdez pointed out that Santa Cruz has historically supported infrastructure projects in neighboring municipalities, such as the Santiago Martín arena, without complaint. Instead of relocating, he has proposed modernizing the current site, suggesting that land in the Southwest or the former refinery area could be used for expansion or a comprehensive renovation.

Meanwhile, the Cabildo de Tenerife is trying to ease tensions. Vice President Lope Afonso reaffirmed the existing master plan for renovations, separating immediate upgrades from the debate over a potential new stadium. The Cabildo maintains that the priority is to ensure the current facility is fit for use, noting that any talk of relocation remains far from a consensus. By framing this as a matter of party loyalty, Bermúdez has complicated the project, leaving the government to balance the need for modernization with the preservation of the capital's identity.