“To have more celebrations, people have to go to the bulls.” On countless occasions the capacity of the Córdoba Mayo serial has been talked about. It is obvious that the volume of celebrations determines the weight of relevance of the city’s bullfighting cycle. … of the caliphs. In the same way, it is inexcusable to assimilate that times have changed and that the Córdoba Fair, for the moment, “gives what it gives.” On this question, José María Garzón, the businessman who manages the Los Califas arena, does not stop thinking about how to fatten the cycle with content. One of his main objectives is to secure the subscriber and thus “consolidate” the business commitment of Lances de Futuro and that of the fans on his square, explains the Sevillian businessman.
—How many subscriptions have been made since the ticket offices opened?
—The Fair is still left (five days), but we are very proud of this march. I think we are going to surpass last year’s number of subscribers. Twenty new subscribers are added every day. This week, logically, if everything goes as planned, people will push harder in this regard. We depend on many factors. Our company has made a great effort presenting the posters and opening ticket offices. We want to provide facilities. That is our endeavor.
Subscribers
“We are very proud of the march and I think we are going to surpass last year’s number of subscribers (2,000)”
—Is giving more celebrations in Córdoba conditional on attendance?
—I don’t know of any bullfighting company that doesn’t want to hold more celebrations in the bullrings it manages. Us, too. It is my intention, and it is what we have been fighting for these past years. I believe that important steps have been taken. The volume of subscribers from last year can be exceeded (two thousand), there is one young subscription completed (almost half a thousand). I believe that the fan is gaining strength because he sees seriousness.
—Last year’s trail…
—It was a historic year. By presence, let’s say, where Córdoba came from (with seven hundred subscribers), to what happened, very positive circumstances arose for the fair. The square could have been full on Saturday, we had almost everything sold, but the rain spoiled that image for us. The next day almost two thousand tickets were returned [cuando se celebró el festejo en la matinal]. Since José Tomás, Los Califas hasn’t looked that way. It was a satisfaction as a businessman to see the support of the fans.
—This year, at the presentation gala, the ‘no tickets’ were put on at the Gran Teatro.
—Córdoba’s response is very much appreciated. A great effort is made to carry out these galas. It is giving value to some posters, but giving them from their own configuration. I believe that he is another incentive for the Córdoba May. And I would like to applaud and thank the local administrations for their involvement.
—About the fair, a bet on a name proper to Córdoba and leaders of the ranks.
—A very solid fair has been planned. The commitment to the maximum incentive that Córdoba bullfighting represents today is no coincidence. Last year he locked himself up alone, this year, a double appearance. Manuel Román is a bullfighter who has raised many expectations. The rest of the proper names are first-rate bullfighters. You just have to look at his performance in recent fairs. I think that Córdoba can count on Ventura, Morante, Manzanares, Ortega and Roca Rey invites the fan to go. And the livestock farms that appear on the poster are equally top-notch. It can be an important fair.
—Name by name, is it a lot of weight for a bullfighter to be the only one who repeats?
—We are talking about the bullfighter with the most expectations and with the most strength that has emerged for twenty-five years in Córdoba after Finito, Chiquilín and José Luis Moreno. I think he is in a good moment to demonstrate his projection. Furthermore, he is going to open Feria with another young man who generates a lot of attention, Marco Pérez. He is going to be a very nice one-on-one and very bullfighter for this plaza. Obviously, he is a protagonist who is coming together, who doesn’t have it all together. He has a lot to do. But here he has the opportunity to prove it.
Ortega’s representative
—Juan Ortega, who you take over, is he one of the most sought-after right-handers today for his concept?
—I see it as you say, yes. Juan is in an extraordinary moment. Everything he does generates very good feelings. He is a bullfighter who has no roof. I would like people to know everything that this profession does. How bullfighting lives. This year he seems happy. He is a different bullfighter, he is touched by the wand. But let’s not forget that he is a matador who barely exceeds one hundred and twenty total bullfights. That he is at this moment with that baggage is tremendously positive. He is a very pure bullfighter. He will continue to grow as a bullfighter and as a person.
—Do you have anything to do with that evolution?
—Juan was there. I have a project with him; I put Juan’s interests before mine, because I believe in him. But I have nothing to do with his evolution. He carries that inside him. I am just a traveling companion who, in every way he can, will help him. But the true protagonist is him and everything he has and is he owes to himself.
—Last year it was talked about, but it was not achieved. Is holding another celebration in September or on another date out of the question?
—Not at all. Last year we tried, but due to a scheduling problem due to commitments already closed at the venue, it was not viable. But this is an idea that we have in mind. I hope we can. But, as I told you, it will depend a lot on how the fair goes, on how the season evolves. Lances de Futuro does not rule out anything, neither names nor dates. We are open to holding more celebrations as long as we can.
