Rayo Vallecano temporary new home now revealed as club forced to start season at LaLiga 2 stadium

Rayo Vallecano will begin the 2026/27 LaLiga season away from their traditional home after being forced out of Estadio de Vallecas.

The Madrid club will instead head across the capital for their opening home fixture, with safety concerns accelerating plans for a major redevelopment of their stadium.

Estadio Butarque will host Rayo Vallecano's first 2026/27 LaLiga match

Rayo Vallecano will host Deportivo Alaves at Estadio Butarque on August 20 after the Community of Madrid ruled that Estadio Vallecas could no longer be used.

The decision followed an audit which uncovered serious health and fire safety concerns, with the regional government describing the condition of the stadium and the club's approach to its upkeep as unacceptable.

CD Leganes have agreed to host the fixture at their home ground, which is currently used by the Segunda Division club.

Rayo previously played at Butarque last season when problems with the Vallecas pitch forced them to temporarily relocate.

The situation comes as Madrid prepares a major €60 million (£52 million) redevelopment of Vallecas, with the project expected to increase capacity from around 14,500 to 18,500, add a new stand and overhaul the stadium's façade.

Rayo do not own Vallecas, with the stadium controlled by the Community of Madrid under an administrative concession, unlike Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

FGG says: Rayo's temporary move highlights why Vallecas needs its overhaul

It is far from ideal for Rayo to begin another season away from their traditional home, particularly with supporters now having to travel to a different stadium for the opening fixture.

However, the enforced move also underlines just how necessary the planned Vallecas redevelopment has become.

If the stadium's safety issues are as serious as the authorities suggest, getting the work underway has to take priority, even if it creates short-term disruption for Rayo and their fans.