They are clearly improvable. And José María Garzón, the new businessman, knows this better than anyone. He knows that, deep down, they represent a disappointment for those who have trusted that his landing in La Maestranza would mean a change, a novelty and a break with the inertia of the past.
Perhaps, because the expectations were very high; Maybe, who knows, because he has been overrated, and Garzón is just another member of the system, aggravated in this case by his status as Juan Ortega’s agent.
He also knows that the subscription posters seem to be based on the draft that was left forgotten in a drawer – the businessman rudely defenestrated by the Real Maestranza – and that they do not stand out precisely for their innovations. More of the same. And someone might conclude that saddlebags were not needed for that trip.
The businessman tries to hide behind the material lack of time, and that he had to put everything back together when he got Morante’s yes, and it is true. But it has had enough to include all those recommended, to reward some bullfighters excessively and forget about others, and to have the same old ranches return for another year.
What merits adorn Juan Ortega and Pablo Aguado to appear four afternoons in the season ticket? And to Talavante and Manzanares to be three?
There are some names. What merits adorn Juan Ortega and Pablo Aguado to spend four afternoons in the season ticket? And what are the ones in Talavante and Manzanares to make three Paseíllos? Between the four of them they occupy 14 positions and block the way for others with enough values to be in Seville.
Out of respect for people, the names of modest bullfighters who appear one afternoon for no apparent reason other than close recommendation are omitted.
Garzón boasts that he has hired representatives of the new generation: Molina, Víctor Hernández, Aarón Palacio, Zulueta and Fabio Jiménez, but he omits the very long list of matadors who have been left out for reasons that are unknown beyond the usual tagline that ‘they all don’t fit’. There are, among others, Ginés Marín, Curro Díaz, Fernando Adrián, Antonio Ferrera, Paco Ureña, Samuel Navalón, Jarocho, Adrián de Torres, Calerito, Ginés Marín, Mario Navas, Daniel Crespo, Clemente, Oliva Soto, El Astigitano… And they are not the only ones. (the businessman explained them in a recent press conference).
Garzón is right when he says that you have to have the figures so that people come to the box office; Yes, but we must make known the so-called emerging bullfighters to build the future, if the veterans decide to leave once and for all at some point.
And the bulls? Garzón has limited himself to confirming the list of livestock farms that Ramón Valencia had approved.
How can the debut of Álvaro Núñez’s cattle ranch and the presence of Puerto de San Lorenzo be sold as novelty? It is not acceptable that the same irons from every year return – a couple of them twice – for a premiere fair that needs renewal, especially in the bulls section.
That he has had very little time…! Agreed, but the resulting fair is disappointing because there are undeserved privileges, many interesting bullfighters who are left out of the posters and a crop of bulls that were crying out for a renewal.
And from here a question arises: is this the project that Garzón had thought of for Seville or is the 2026 subscription nothing more than the draft of a new strategy that imprints the essential innovation that the future demands?
Great success of the businessman in convincing Morante to destroy the rite, the liturgy and the seriousness and decide to ‘reappear’ in Seville
Will there be a revolution next year? Perhaps a moderate and silent change? It is not known. For now, the dreamed change will have to wait, because what is not clear is whether Garzón has come to give a different personality of his own to bullfighting Seville or simply to follow in the footsteps of the Pagés company. That’s the dilemma.
By the way, he was very successful in convincing Morante to throw away the rite, the liturgy and the seriousness and decide reappear in Seville, which has saved Garzón’s life and given color to the fertilizer. And also a great idea is the celebration of the poster presentation gala.
But another important unknown remains: whether the company has changed to improve management or so that everything remains the same but with a person who is more open to dialogue; In other words, if she was dissatisfied with Pagés’ management or just very angry about the happy business of lawsuits.
Of course, the owners of the square, so conservative, must not like experiments, and would prefer to follow the advice that Alfonso
Something similar he could say to his new tenant: “José María, don’t get into trouble, and you know, from Morante to Juan Pedro, and from Juan Pedro to Morante…”.
