Cuenca: The Third Bullring with the Most Season Ticket Holders in Spain

These figures were released by the company Maxitoro in 2024, coinciding with its 25th year managing the Cuenca bullring. When Maximino Pérez took over the La Mancha arena, it barely had 400 season ticket holders. Today, that number exceeds 5,000. Only Las Ventas in Madrid and the Monumental in Pamplona have more subscribers than the venue located on Avenida de los Reyes Católicos.

The success of the San Julián Fair under Maximino’s leadership has also been reflected in the artistic sphere. Not only has the fair attracted all the leading toreros (bullfighters), but the Madrid-born empresario has witnessed them triumph frequently in his ring. In fact, he himself was lifted onto the shoulders of the crowd (salir a hombros: being carried out of the arena as a mark of triumph) together with Joselito and Miguel Abellán during the 2000 Fair.

Enrique Ponce is the torero who has taken part in the most paseíllos (the ceremonial parade of participants before the fight) in this arena during this period, and also the one who has been billed most often in Cuenca. But besides the three already mentioned, Castella, Talavante, Morante, El Juli, Iván Fandiño, Manzanares, Juan Ortega, Pablo Aguado, El Cid, Ferrera, César Jiménez, and well-known names such as Padilla, Cayetano, Rivera Ordóñez, El Cordobés, El Fandi… and many more have all fought (and triumphed) in the Cuenca capital.

Even José Tomás appeared during the Maximino era, specifically in the 2008 season, on Sunday 24 August, to fight a encierro (a full lot of six bulls from the same breeder) from La Palmosilla alongside Finito de Córdoba and Miguel Ángel Perera, with whom he made the paseíllo for the first time that afternoon. There was clear rivalry between the two, and at the end of the show—naturally held to a full house—both toreros were carried out on shoulders.

Maximino also succeeded in convincing toreros of the stature of Jesulín de Ubrique or Cristina Sánchez to return for a one-off appearance in this ring, adding prestige and distinction to the San Julián cycle. Even a torero as unique and eccentric as El Pana, who barely fought in Spain, could boast of having fought here.

Another defining feature of Maximino’s tenure has been the high number of indultos (pardons granted to exceptional bulls whose lives are spared) witnessed during these nearly three decades, particularly that of “Carcelero”, a bull from José Vázquez whose life was spared by Daniel Luque during the 2011 fair. The bull later returned to the arena where he earned his pardon, being exhibited five years later as a prelude to an afternoon in which four of his offspring were fought.

As it approaches its hundredth anniversary, the Cuenca bullring—able to hold more than 8,500 spectators—proudly celebrates its devoted supporters and the quality of its programming. Between now and the Centenary of its Inauguration (to be celebrated in 2027), Maximino promises surprises and innovations, with the refinement and flair of an empresario who is forging his own legend in the history and the heart of this arena.