Carqueiranne (France) (AFP)
The president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) Bernard Laporte, candidate for re-election, wants the body to become co-owner of the Stade de France in 2025, he explained Wednesday during his first campaign meeting.
"Provide the FFR with its own stadium, at reasonable cost, by becoming the owner of the Stade de France in 2025": the measure is part of the project of candidate Laporte, presented on Wednesday in Carqueiranne, in the Var.
The State, owner of the Stade de France, indicated in 2019 that it did not want to extend the operating concession with the consortium formed by the builders Vinci and Bouygues beyond 2025, and would like better involvement of the football and football federations. rugby, linked to the consortium by an agreement to host the matches of the Blues.
"No, we do not want to buy it," then contradicted Laporte, questioned about this project. "We want to be part of a team that will have the Stade de France and manage it. Why not a team with other federations but above all with people who know how to manage it. It is not our job to manage a stadium so we are in discussion with some people, ”he said.
Signed on April 29, 1995, the contract between the State and the Stade de France Consortium, formed by Vinci and Bouygues, provided for the latter to build the enclosure in exchange for a 30-year concession. A model that turned out to be costly for public finances: not only did the State invest 191 million euros out of the 361 that the stadium cost, but it also paid the equivalent of 115 million euros to the consortium, as compensation for the absence of a resident club.
The choice of the future model arises while the Stade de France will be at the heart of the Paris-2024 Olympic Games.
© 2020 AFP