The Malaga City Council has taken a significant step towards expanding the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos (Fycma), a project aiming to establish it as a hub for major events such as conferences, concerts, and trade fairs. The expansion plans include the creation of a multipurpose hall of at least 12,000 square meters, designed to adapt to various needs.
The local government has requested a subsidy of 590,000 euros from the Junta de Andalucía to fund the design and execution project for this ambitious undertaking. The total project cost exceeds four million euros, with a twelve-month deadline set for the completion of the documentation to commence construction.
The intervention, conceived as a "functional, spatial, and architectural continuation" of the existing building, will add up to 60,000 square meters of buildable area. The ground floor will feature new exhibition spaces, a convention hall with a capacity for 2,600 people, and catering areas. The first floor will house conference rooms for 1,400 attendees, offices, and administrative spaces.
Underground, two parking levels are planned with capacity for approximately 2,000 spaces, which will compensate for those lost during construction and increase the overall availability. The proposal also includes improvements to public space and the environmental quality of the surrounding area.
The Councilor for Urban Planning, Carmen Casero, emphasized the necessity of this administrative document to proceed with the expansion. The project aims to enhance the venue's competitiveness and adapt it to the MICE sector (meetings, incentives, conferences, and events tourism), boosting economic activity and Malaga's metropolitan projection.
Fycma has experienced notable growth, exceeding 163,000 attendees in the first half of the year and generating an economic impact of over 165 million euros. Events like the San Diego Comic-Con and the Greencities forum demonstrate the increasing demand for such facilities in the city.
