Rosica on Boca budget: surplus, expansion and swipes at opposition | OneFootball

Boca’s new budget projects a historic fiscal year marked by a multimillion-dollar surplus and the expansion of La Bombonera. Ricardo Rosica, the club’s General Secretary, laid out the economic and institutional direction ahead of the representatives’ assembly, while also sending strong political messages.

The club’s leadership is preparing for a key institutional day at Brandsen 805. There, the projected financial plan for the next period will be put to a vote. In the lead-up, Ricardo Rosica spoke out to set the tone and explain the board’s working methodology.

"Tomorrow will be a historic day, the budget will be discussed, and it lays out the direction of our administration, including the first stage of the expansion," the executive began. He also stressed that this "shows the club is healthy, balanced, solid, debt-free, and running a surplus."

"After finding the club in debt and going through the pandemic, we didn’t lay off a single employee — quite the opposite," he added firmly. He also recalled that "we were dismissed when we said we were fixing things or renovating the bathrooms; that’s what we tried to make real and carry out, and for the first time the expansion is included."

This Thursday, the Assembly will take place, where the budget will be discussed. Photo: Gerónimo Marino/La Número 12.

All these remarks by the club executive on Fútbol Continental came ahead of the meeting that will debut the renovated Filiberto Hall. According to his own words, this space will feature "the technology that members and assembly representatives deserve."

Boca projects a surplus

The consolidated figures reflect major financial protection for the blue-and-gold institution. This leaves a crucial positive balance for the close of the current fiscal year. "239.392 billion pesos are coming in and 235.989 billion pesos are going out, which gives a surplus of 3.403 billion pesos," he detailed.

At the same time, the general secretary added that key construction work is being carried out with these resources. He mentioned "the gym project that members will be able to use for free, and the much-maligned entrance gate project, which is impressive." He also confirmed that "the Hard Rock will be finished by the end of July."

On the social side, the leadership highlighted the exponential growth in membership, which financially supports the Xeneize. "The opposition will say the budget is carried by the members," Rosica anticipated regarding possible criticism. "In 2019, in the last budget of the board led by Daniel Angelici, 32% of revenue came from membership dues; today it’s 35%," he explained. He then argued that this is "not very different from what was done before, but now with much more infrastructure, more members, and more employees."

Members will be able to watch the Assembly in Filiberto Hall. Photo: Gerónimo Marino/La Número 12.

In that sense, he pointed to historical figures. "In 2019, a membership fee was $800 and 2 general-admission tickets (AFA regulations) were $1,000 — that was 80% of the membership fee. Today a membership fee is $40,000, still lower than at other clubs, and 2 AFA general-admission tickets are $80,000." In this way, the executive stressed that "a Boca member can come watch the team twice a month for $40,000." He also gave exact figures on the growth in membership that fills the institution with pride.

"In the last 2019 budget, Boca had 206,000 members across all categories, and today it has 264,000," he detailed. "We moved nearly 16,000 members into active status under an IGJ-approved regulation whereby associate members of more than 10 years automatically became active members — something the previous administration did not do," he fired off.

Of course, infrastructure is the turning point of this financial presentation. The focus is on the mythical stadium and making the most of every day of the sporting break. "After playing the last match, we would have 60 days without returning to La Bombonera, and we decided to accelerate toward the dream," he said. He explained that "starting with the pitch, necessary work is being done to turn it into the best playing field in Argentine football." To close this section, he delivered excellent news for supporters. He promised that "when people return on the 23rd, there will be a new area in the L Stand, and it’s part of the path toward our dream."

The expansion of La Bombonera

The master plan to add 20,000 new seats is the great obsession of Boca. "We know Boca members were left frustrated by the latest results, but the budget shows where we are headed as an administration," he admitted. "The first stage of the expansion is included, which includes the fourth tier and the towers and elevators to access that fourth tier," he confirmed.

He clarified that this "is included in this budget, and the works are part of the expansion master plan, the road toward our dream that will bring 20,000 more seats." Without avoiding the political context, he directly targeted electoral rivals. "The opposition is worried about when the expansion works will start — if in 20 years they had pushed even a little, today we’d have less work to do," he shot back.

Boca is planning the expansion of La Bombonera.

"Their intention was to retire La Bombonera and build a new stadium, and now they’re asking us to speed up the expansion — it’s unbelievable," he lamented. Despite the obstacles, he made it clear: "We keep working; our administration speaks for us." Football matters also had their place in the broader analysis. "The opposition is concerned, and every time the sporting shortfall is seen — which we regret, not being able to keep competing in the Libertadores —" he reflected.

"We’re happy to be on the right track," he said of the structural work and methodology. "The number of titles we’ve won in the youth divisions and the boys who made their debuts in the first team show that results will come, and that’s how the president and his team work to make that happen," he assured. He then proudly highlighted the tireless work in Ezeiza. "It’s no coincidence that Aranda debuted for the national team — he had coaches who guided him to that place and the reserve team manager who saw his potential," he explained. "Then he said, 'Take him to the first team,' and the first-team coach played him, and the kid had shown his ability from the day he arrived," he added.

"Behind that there is work by nutritionists, psychologists, doctors, coaches, so that each of those 50 boys scattered across Argentine and world football can be a source of pride for this club," he stressed. He praised "the work being done at the training ground, which is wonderful, not to mention the infrastructure — the true Boca fan sees it." Near the end of the sporting discussion, he empathized with the fans in the stands. "When results don’t come, you get frustrated, angry, we suffer because we want to win and be the best," he admitted. Even so, he trusted that "it will surely happen in the short term."

Juan Román Riquelme’s Board of Directors presents a key budget.

Finally, the board laid out the sharp ideological differences with dissident sectors. He appealed to the sense of belonging of those who walk the halls of the club every day. "When the Boca fan can separate themselves from politics, from these crazy things they say, that Boca has been taken over by a political party," he began. "Everyone in the opposition is a public official, all of them: one in the legislature, another in a ministry," he fired back.

"We are all workers and Boca fans; I’ve been at the club for 30 years and I’ve been through every position," he sharply contrasted. He also stressed that "we are fully convinced that we are on the right path, that it’s no coincidence the club is recognized worldwide and we are restoring its value — let’s remember: the stadium was painted the wrong way around."

To conclude, he left an optimistic promise for the end of the season. "Every time a new stage begins, expectations are created: we have no doubt that we are going to finish the year celebrating, where each and every Boca fan deserves to be," he concluded.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.