The Valladolid Premier Padel P2 tournament has drawn attention for all the wrong reasons this week, as images of empty stands in the city’s iconic Plaza Mayor circulate online. Despite the lack of spectators, the official tourism account of Valladolid shared a promotional post celebrating the event, prompting a wave of criticism and mockery on social media.
The post, which featured a photo of a match being played in front of completely vacant seats, was captioned with the phrase “Valladolid is always Valladolid.” The attempt to highlight the city’s role as host backfired, with users questioning the logic of showcasing an event that appeared to lack public interest. Comments ranged from sarcastic praise to outright confusion, with one user asking, “Are you showing off that no one came?”
The contrast between the grandeur of the venue and the absence of fans has sparked debate about the effectiveness of the city’s promotional efforts and the timing of the tournament. While organizers hope attendance will improve with the debut of local star Arturo Coello and the approach of the final rounds, the early days of the event have left a muted impression.
Despite the criticism, the tournament continues, and officials remain optimistic that the energy will build as the competition progresses. For now, though, the spotlight remains on the disconnect between the city’s promotional narrative and the reality on the ground.
Valladolid siempre es Valladolid 💜 pic.twitter.com/a5NLFgyvLz
— Turismo Valladolid (@infoVLL) June 24, 2025
