There are few things that are common to the collective imagination of Madrileños across different generations, and the Parque de Atracciones is one of them; it has undergone minor changes and adaptations but has generally remained a constant over time.
So much so that since 1967 it has been operated by Parques Reunidos; however, it will now cease to be in the hands of its long-time operator when the current concession expires definitively in September 2027, opening the door to a new public bidding process and, with it, a different future for one of the great icons of Madrid’s leisure scene.
Since its opening in the 1960s, the Amusement Park has been a symbol of modernity, a laboratory for new experiences, and, above all, a shared setting in the city’s collective memory. Under the management of Parques Reunidos,the park has gradually introduced major adrenaline-pumping attractions, revamped its landscape with themed areas, adapted to increasingly stringent safety and sustainability regulations, and evenresponded to changing trends in leisure consumption through campaigns, special events, and themed seasons.
The fact that the concession ends in 2027 and the park will be put out to public tender means, in practice, that the City Council will be able to consider different proposals regarding what the Amusement Park of the future should look like: what management model it wants, what investments are being considered, what relationship will be built with the Casa de Campo and the public, and what role the park will play in an increasingly competitive leisure ecosystem, where theme parks, experiential shopping centers, and new forms of digital entertainment coexist.
The change in management does not necessarily imply an immediate radical shift in the visitor experience, but it does spark a debate about priorities: more innovation in attractions, a greater focus on families, greater sustainability, and greater integration with the natural environment.
What should be preserved as the park’s essence, and what should be reinvented? How can the charm of family visits be maintained while also updating the park’s offerings to compete with the major theme parks surrounding the capital? With just over a year left before the concession comes to an end, a countdown has begun—one that will focus not only on bid specifications and tenders but also on the role the Parque de Atracciones aims to play in the city over the coming decades.
