The Stade Vélodrome regularly hosts rugby matches, such as the France-Italy match here on March 23, 2018 (archives).

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C. Simon / AFP

  • The city of Marseille says it is dissatisfied with the financial conditions to host several matches of the Rugby World Cup at the Vélodrome

  • This financial charge was negotiated by the previous majority led by Jean-Claude Gaudin.

The city of Marseille has asked the organizers of the 2023 Rugby World Cup to review with them the conditions for hosting the matches, considering that "the financial burden was far too heavy".

In a letter made public on Saturday, the first deputy Benoît Payan, who replaces the ecological mayor Michèle Rubirola due to an operation, said he wanted to "host this magnificent sporting and popular event".

Two quarter-finals

However, he considers "necessary" to work with the organizers of the competition "for a fairer and more balanced budget matrix (...) for the Marseillais".

The Vélodrome must notably host two quarter-finals of the 2023 Mondial.

A partnership, approved by the city council in November 2019, had been established between the former LR majority and the organizers who provided in particular for the provision of the Vélodrome stadium "without charge" as well as sites dedicated to training, recalls Benoît Payan.

The contract also provided for work to modify the playing surface of the lawn, continues the elected official.

"My services estimate the cost that this convention represents today for the city of Marseille at more than 7 million euros".

Expenses which, according to the representative of the town hall, "do not include the shortfall" represented by the free provision of the stadium and other sites.

“In addition, the estimated amount of financial benefits for the City is based substantially on the attendance of the public during the event.

However, this influx remains currently more than uncertain because of the impossibility of presuming the evolution of the health crisis, ”he wrote.

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  • Marseilles

  • Rugby World Cup

  • Rugby

  • Sport