The Board of Directors of the Lérida Fair has given the green light to the start of the bidding process to design and build the new fairgrounds on the grounds of the old hippodrome. This decision marks the formal start of an urban transformation that seeks to redefine the city's exhibition space.
The estimated investment amounts to 100 million euros to develop a project that will occupy a total area of 116,000 square meters. The magnitude of the figure reflects the institutional ambition to modernize the commercial infrastructure of the demarcation.
Six pavilions will define the new space
The future facility will have six pavilions totaling 27,500 square meters of covered area. Five of these structures will be newly built, while one existing removable structure will be maintained.
The designs must integrate mobility solutions and connect the venue with La Llotja via a pedestrian walkway. The possible covering of the Seròs canal will also be studied to improve accessibility.
"The objective is to consolidate itself as the second institution in the sector in Catalonia after Barcelona" - Board of Directors of the Feria de Lérida
A large outdoor multipurpose area will complement the indoor buildings. This outdoor space will be prepared to host large events such as music festivals or the Snail gathering.
A four-year horizon for the first phase
The works of the first stage have an estimated execution period of four years. This initial phase will include the construction of the Feria Zero pavilion, which will have 5,000 square meters of usable space.
The ideas competition will be opened immediately to select five teams of architects. These professionals will have nine months to develop the corresponding preliminary projects.
The winning team will draft the executive project under a contract valued at one million euros. The technicians will have to address the urban integration and sustainability of the complex.
Eduard Martín Lineros, a computer engineer from Barcelona, will take over the direction of the institution. His arrival coincides with a moment of strategic expansion for the organization.
The economic balance for the 2025 fiscal year closed with a positive result of 735,000 euros. This financial leeway facilitates the boost of new planned investments.
"The financing is guaranteed through the Catalan Institute of Finance and the transformation of the current land" - Board of Directors of the Feria de Lérida
The initiative has the explicit backing of the City Council, the Provincial Council, the Generalitat, and the Chamber of Commerce. This institutional union aims to shield the project from possible political or economic unforeseen events.
It is estimated that the launch of the new venue will generate around 400 direct and indirect jobs. The labor impact will extend beyond construction to future operational management.
The transformation of the old hippodrome into a modern business hub will definitively alter the physiognomy of that area of Lleida. The physical and functional connection with La Llotja will create an integrated services district that will now depend on the technical precision of the selected preliminary projects.