Estadio Helmántico

The Estadio Helmántico sits on the edge of Salamanca, but its presence is defined by the old velodrome that once circled the pitch. When the velodrome came down in 1999, it left space for new training pitches and a gymnasium beneath the South Stand, but the shape of the stadium remained unchanged.

What distinguishes this ground is not the architecture, but the history of the track that once surrounded it. The athletics track, now known as the Estadio Javier Sotomayor, hosted two world records by the Cuban high jumper. The first came in 1988, and the second in 1993, a height of 2.45 meters that still stands. The main stadium hosted the Spanish national team several times, including a match against China in 2005, but the real significance lies in the athletics.

The stadium has seen its share of closures. In December 2023, the local municipality decreed a cessation of activity due to safety and structural concerns. The primary tenants have changed over the years, from Unión Deportiva Salamanca, which owned the stadium until 2013, to Salamanca Club de Fútbol UDS, which moved in after the stadium was acquired by Desarrollos Empresariales Deportivos S.L. The capacity remains at 17,341, all seated, but the number feels smaller now that matches are halted.

There is a sense of waiting here. The pitch is natural grass, untouched by artificial turf proposals that never materialised. The scoreboards installed in 1999 are still in place, though they may not be used until the ground is cleared for play. The track remains the heart of the complex.