Before its game against Barcelona on Sunday, La Liga side Villarreal announced it renamed its El Madrigal stadium Estadio de la Cerámica, according to Rodríguez & Mayo of MARCA. The club broadcast the news onto the southern facade of the ground "before a press conference with club chiefs" and La Liga President Javier Tebas. The deal brings "a number of major local companies from the Castellon ceramics industry into the fold as club partners." Villarreal Owner Fernando Roig, who made his fortune in ceramics, said, "This is only the first 25 percent. We are at the beginning of what we want the stadium to be and we will continue to improve it. It is a project with the philosophy of Villarreal at its heart. Everyone wins with this remodeling, including the sponsors, as the ceramic facade to the stadium will be a permanent exhibition and showcase of their wares" (MARCA, 1/8). The EFE reported Roig said that the "new name of the stadium" has already meant a €3M ($3.2M) profit for the club, and "could be worth" as much as €8M ($8.5M). He added that "the most important aspect of the project is the remodeling of the field and its surroundings," which Roig believes "is very good for both the club and the city." Roig added that "with this change, everyone wins," as the team "has better entrances, options for using the area for other projects and the economic aspect." He said, "The city gets a new, modern zone it will be able to use, in addition to all the changes being paid for by the club, at no cost to the city" (EFE, 1/8).
