Necochea awards casino auditorium to A Toda Vela Mar for ARS 383.819.190

The Municipality of Necochea has awarded the Teatro Auditórium at the Complejo Casino to A Toda Vela Mar S.A. through a public auction, according to a report. The property was sold at the base price of ARS 383.819.190 (USD 247.000). The company was the only bidder in the process.

The company, led by businessman Oscar Merlo, had already been awarded the remaining commercial and real-estate parcels of the complex in June, for ARS 4.878 million. The auctioned building covers an area of approximately 2.910 square metres. Under Municipal Ordinance No 2005/81, the private award does not change the land classification or the urban profile: the site keeps its assigned use as a theatre.

The official act was led by local mayor Arturo Rojas and public auctioneer Sergio Gertie, under Ordinance No 12.009/25. The report noted the site's condition after years of inactivity and building deterioration caused by previous fires.

Rojas said the auction of the Auditórium followed the earlier auction of the rest of the Complejo Casino. "Es un día absolutamente significativo por poder realizar la subasta del Auditórium, que se suma a la subasta de todo el Complejo Casino meses anteriores, así que hay que felicitar a la firma, a Oscar Merlo y sus socios por la adquisición de este bien que es tan caro a los sentimientos de todos los necochenses y sabiendo lo que significa en términos culturales y turísticos", he said. He added that one stage closes and another begins, focused on seeking private investment, creating opportunities and jobs, and strengthening tourism.

Merlo said the company's immediate priority is a structural survey and civil engineering assessment to establish operational needs. The plan covers an integral technical diagnosis of damage from recent decades, phased works prioritising structural interventions and restoration of the theatre, and collaboration with arts and hospitality specialists to restore the complex's regional role. "Para nosotros es otro día muy importante, seguimos con este objetivo de seguir apostando a Necochea porque creemos en el potencial que tiene", he said.

Rojas also said the sale could attract further investment to Necochea and generate employment and improve the tourism offer, even in a difficult economic context.