The future of the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium, home to Club Deportivo Tenerife, is beginning to take shape with an ambitious master plan. Lope Afonso, vice-president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, has shared details of this initiative aimed at modernizing the facilities in the coming years. Initial interventions will focus on renovating the locker rooms, benches, and general areas, while a "new skin" for the exterior facade is planned for the long term.

The first phase of the project will concentrate on the stadium's internal areas, with a comprehensive renovation of the locker rooms. The main goal is to meet the requirements of LaLiga and UEFA, creating modern and functional spaces. The design includes a versatile locker room that can be used by both men's and women's teams, as well as a third multipurpose space. This renovation seeks to move away from the "bunker" image that characterizes the current facilities, which date back to the stadium's original configuration.

Although this phase has experienced delays due to urban planning issues, Afonso has assured that these are being resolved with the Santa Cruz City Council. In addition to the locker rooms, the plan includes the "comprehensive renovation of the bathrooms and general facilities to address issues such as water pressure." Common areas, the press room, booths, and the VIP area will also be modernized.

While some improvements to facilities and bathrooms might be ready for the start of the next season, the full renovation of the locker rooms will begin once the competition is underway. Lope Afonso highlighted that the year 2027 could be crucial for the stadium's internal renewal, solidifying a modernized venue for the next 10 to 15 years.

One of the most noticeable changes will be the creation of a "new skin" for the stadium's exterior. The vice-president of the Cabildo announced that work is underway on a solution that will envelop the current facade, providing a completely different and contemporary look, though he clarified it would not be comparable to that of the Bernabéu. "It would be a significant change in the current appearance and aesthetics," he stated.

This new facade will not only have an aesthetic function but also an "operational one, from the point of view of being able to be used as a support, as a base for information and promotion." The intention is to offer a renewed image that complements the internal modernization of the stands, which already display the club's colors and the flag's blades.

Beyond these reforms, Lope Afonso has proposed a "responsible debate" about the definitive future of the Heliodoro, in which he believes "people must participate." Two main options are on the table: "a very deep remodeling of the current stadium or the construction of a new one in another location."

The first option would involve increasing capacity to between 30,000 and 35,000 spectators, by working on stands like the Herradura and affecting public roads. The second alternative points to the southwest area of Santa Cruz, in the vicinity of Hoya Fría, where there is suitable land for sports facilities that could house not only a new stadium but also the future Tenerife Arena project.