Real Mallorca opens Son Moix on December 31: Training with donation drive

Real Mallorca opens Son Moix on December 31: Training with donation drive

If you prefer closeness instead of fireworks on New Year's Eve morning, this year in Palma there's an easy option: Real Mallorca invites the public to a training session at the Estadi de Son Moix on December 31; more at the Official RCD Mallorca website.

Gates open at 10:00 at entrances 4 and 5; training starts at 10:30. Son Moix, that blue-red block near the MA-13, has in recent years become a place where families, retirees and young people come together; you can also read about a recent packed match there in Season Opener at Son Moix: Packed House, Festive Atmosphere. You can hear murmured conversations, the rustle of plastic bags, sometimes the beeping of a bus display. The stadium is easy to reach by car and the usual bus connections (check EMT Palma public transport information) — on a clear December Saturday sun and cold air combine into that Mallorcan crispness many here like.

What makes this date special: there's a donation drive. Fans are asked to bring non-perishable food; donations will be collected at the entrances. The collected supplies will then be distributed to 26 aid organizations across Mallorca. This is not a big PR spectacle, but practical neighborhood help: canned goods, rice, pasta, baby food — everything that is long-lasting and can be quickly passed on to those in need.

There is a double benefit for the island. First: meeting. Especially at Christmas you can often feel the gap between the tourist season and residents' everyday life in Mallorca. An open training session brings together people who otherwise don't often show up at Son Moix. Second: direct help. That the donations go to 26 different organizations shows how extensive the social network here is — and how important it is to provide support at several points rather than putting everything on one card.

Practical information for visitors: If you plan to go on December 31, arrive in good time; checks at the entrances are usually quick, but fans and families gather in the morning. For other home events the club has sometimes arranged extra services, as noted in Home match at Son Moix: RCD Mallorca hosts Elche today – extra buses from the city center. A backpack instead of bulky bags is recommended, warm clothing and sturdy shoes — the wind can be cutting on the stands. And: the organizers ask that no perishable goods be brought; canned and dry staple foods are the most practical.

If you've never been to one of these open trainings, you get a different picture than at a televised match: you stand close to the touchline, hear the coach's instructions, see players laugh or joke. For children this is often the most important moment — a selfie, a handshake through the net, an autograph on the way to the subway. For older attendees it's the chance to watch the team in a relaxed atmosphere, without the fuss of a league match.

From a local perspective the timing fits: many shops in Palma close in the afternoon, families plan their evening on their own, and those who arrive early can start the day with a cup of coffee near the stadium. For the island community the event is also a call: bring a little, make a big difference. Note: there is no guarantee of souvenirs or special celebrities — the event is primarily a training session and a gesture of solidarity.

The mood on such mornings is rarely formal, rather down-to-earth: parents urging their children to get a photo; retirees discussing the last year; young people enjoying the brightness of winter. So if you are looking for something different than rocket noise on New Year's Eve, this is an opportunity to feel the island community and at the same time give something concrete.

Those who want to take part can come to the mentioned gates, pack a can in their bag and take a short look at the pitch. Small effort, practical help — and maybe a quiet moment before the new year really begins.