The EMT buys from a collector a 1944 Madrid tram stored in a ship from Zaragoza

The Spanish Football Federation is actively searching for a prestigious building in central Madrid to house a new, large-scale museum dedicated to the national team and its World Cup history. Federation officials stated that finding the ideal property has proven difficult, despite months of effort. This initiative aims to relocate the existing collection from the Football City facility in Las Rozas, which has been closed to the public for one year due to low visitor numbers. The move is driven by President Rafael Louzán, who reportedly views the project as a personal priority following Spain’s recent victory over Argentina in the World Cup final. The current museum in Las Rozas opened in December 2010, shortly after the South Africa World Cup. It spans 1,800 square meters and holds approximately 17,000 objects and documents, some of which are still being cataloged. Sources close to the operation noted that attendance was particularly low during weekdays, with days passing where no visitors arrived. Although school groups visited regularly, the facility lacked the impact worthy of its contents. With the 2030 World Cup approaching and jersey sales reaching unprecedented levels under manager Luis de la Fuente, the federation seeks to capitalize on this surge in interest. They aim to create an ultra-modern space that appeals not only to football fans but also to tourists. Federative sources admitted that they have already visited more than twenty potential properties, all of them emblematic locations. One candidate is the Modernist Palacio de Longoria in the Malasaña district. Built over a century ago, the three-story palace is designated a Property of Cultural Interest and has served as the headquarters for the Society of Authors and Editors for seventy-six years. Another option considered was the Palace of the Duke of Infantado in La Latina. Acquired by beer company Mahou San Miguel more than a decade ago for conversion into a cultural center, this eighteenth-century structure covers 3,150 square meters. However, the federation lost access to another prime location, a 4,000-square-meter townhouse at number 31 Calle General Martínez Campos in Chamberí. That property, previously associated with the British Council, was purchased last month by financial institution Abanca to serve as its headquarters. The search has also extended to areas such as Paseo de la Castellana and Recoletos. Officials indicated that not all buildings met their specific requirements. Some candidates were rejected due to high prices, while others failed to meet structural criteria. The desired venue must feature two or three floors and include spaces suitable for projections, audiovisual resources, and interactive experiences. Given the architectural heritage of many potential sites, any renovation would need to respect strict heritage preservation regulations. A simple cosmetic overhaul would likely be insufficient. There is a sense of urgency within the federation to launch this new attraction, citing that seventeen million people watched the previous World Cup final on television. In a separate development regarding Madrid’s transportation heritage, the municipal transit authority EMT has acquired a historic tram from a collector in Zaragoza. The vehicle, a FIAT PCC 1134, was purchased for 100,000 euros to join the EMT’s historical museum. The tram had been stored in a warehouse for years, where the previous owner spent a decade restoring it manually. Diego García, head of historical heritage at EMT, explained that the vehicle is technically in perfect condition, though it requires decorative interior work before exhibition. He noted that if placed on appropriate tracks with a 600-volt electrical supply, the tram could function perfectly. The acquisition ends a long search by the EMT. Only three passenger trams of this type remain in Spain. Most units that operated in Madrid were scrapped after service ended, so surviving examples are rare. The model name PCC derives from the President’s Conference Committee, a group of American streetcar executives who promoted a modern, mass-producible design in the 1920s. Fiat later acquired the patent for production in Italy. Madrid became the first European city to purchase these vehicles. Fifty units were bought directly from Fiat, arriving starting in 1944 via ship from Turin to Barcelona and then by train to Madrid. An additional 110 trams were manufactured locally in Beasain and Zaragoza. This specific unit entered service in 1959 and was among the last to operate in the capital. Its final routes included Line 70 between Plaza de Castilla and San Blas, and Line 77 between Pueblo Nuevo and Ciudad Pegaso. These route numbers persist today on EMT bus lines. Tram operations ceased entirely in Madrid on June 1, 1972. These electric vehicles represented a technical leap, replacing steam and horse power with 600-volt electricity and pneumatic braking systems. Each tram measured 13.35 meters in length and could carry up to one hundred passengers, including 26 seated and 74 standing. For decades, trams constituted the primary collective public transport in the city.