The Municipality of San José has launched a fourth tender in a critical attempt to award the commercial rights for the traditional 2026-2027 Zapote Festivities.
Following three unsuccessful bidding attempts through the Integrated System of Public Procurement (SICOP), local officials have altered their strategy by unbundling the commercial areas into three separate lots rather than selling the entire venue package at once.
💰 Financial Breakdown: ¢410 Million Across 3 Auction Lots
Under the newly restructured procedure, prospective concessionaires can bid independently on distinct components of the event:Commercial ZoneAuction Price (CRC)Concession HighlightsBullring (Redondel de Toros)¢155 MillionCommercial exploitation rights for traditional bullfighting events.Fairgrounds (Campo Ferial)¢208 MillionCommercial food, game, and general concession booth spaces.Amusement Park (Carruseles)¢47 MillionExclusive operational rights for ride and amusement area rentals.
🏛️ Dialogue with Potential Bidders and Regulatory Constraints
The decision to split the tender followed an October 24 consultative meeting between municipal representatives and interested commercial operators.
“During the meeting, we listened to the concerns, questions, and comments of prospective bidders, as part of the process to carry out this traditional celebration that gathers thousands of families during the year-end and New Year period,” the Municipality stated in an official release.
Giovanny Paniagua, a member of the San José Festivities Commission, reaffirmed the local government’s commitment to delivering the traditional year-end celebrati
Legal and Time Constraints
The third auction, conducted on Friday, October 16 via SICOP, left local administrators with limited regulatory leeway. Municipal officials confirmed that the local government cannot request special fast-track authorization from the Comptroller General of the Republic (CGR), as current conditions fail to meet legal thresholds for an emergency procurement procedure.
⏳ High Stakes for Year-End Traditions
With year-end dates rapidly approaching, this fourth bidding round is considered decisive. Should the current tender fail to secure winning bids for the bullring, fairgrounds, and amusement zones, the continuous execution of the landmark end-of-year Zapote celebration will face severe logistical risk.
