New stadium for the French

Looks like the FFR want their own stadium, based on the description and picture, it looks like the Millenium Stadium mkII only in a suburban area like Twickernam is.

Not sure how sound the finances are though, Wales is doing well at paying off the Millenium, but a lot of the rugby money in France is with the clubs, im not sure how much influence the FFR has on the money at the moment.


http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7851750,00.html

The Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR) has announced plans to build a new 82,000-seater stadium in Evry, 25km south of Paris despite questions over financing

The ultra-modern "Grand Stade" is expected to be ready in 2017 and will replace the Stade de France as the 'home' of French rugby.

It will have a closing roof and a multi-purpose, movable pitch. The FFR says it will host at least 20 events a year, including five or six French Tests but also concerts and other forms of entertainment.

The move to the former racecourse in the suburb of Evry Centre Essonne comes after the FFR tired of playing second-fiddle to football matches at the Stade de France, which was built for the 1998 football World Cup.

The French governing body is also hoping to follow the example of Twickenham, which is owed by the English Rugby Football Union, and is a direct source of income.

The FFR is frustrated by the cost of holding games at Stade de France - nearly €5m for every game. Twickenham can generate as much as €6m per game.

The federation's headquarters will, however, remain at Marcoussis 20km west of Evry, along with the National Centre of Rugby where the France team gathers before home internationals.

Evry's bid, led by former mayor and now-Interior Minister Manuel Valls, beat off that of Thiais-Orly, situated just 1km from Paris' second airport at Orly.

A committee including FFR president Pierre Camou and former president Serge Blanco chose the new ground because of its easy transport links, its 133 hectare site near open countryside and the support of the local community.

"It conforms to what we want," said FFR president Pierre Camou.

"One of the most modern stadiums in the world: pitch, roof, multi-functional, with exceptional comfort levels for spectators."

Les Bleus played previously at the Parc des Princes before moving in 1997 to the Stade de France, which currently hosts their home Six Nations matches.

Sounds like a viable concept. Nice design, though many European stadia are starting to look very similar.

Meh

Yay... Another new fangled roof for the oldies to keep open.

Better have under soil heating as well

Let's hope they maintain the pitch (you know, the important bit) better than the one at the Millennium Stadium.

Well you do have a point about the Millennium's pitch, it is fecking poo isn't it

sugarNspikes wrote:Let's hope they maintain the pitch (you know, the important bit) better than the one at the Millennium Stadium.

Grumble, grumble

Key question: if it's raining and Wales are going to play there will they ask for the roof open?

The roof looks opaque. Not a good idea for a grass pitch.

Shame if it happens. I really liked the Stade de France. I guess the key question about anywhere that the French play is "are they able to unleash their cocks easily"

Good luck to France for this endevour! Always good to see another top class Rugby only stadium built for purpose.

Wranglings aside, if it they yes men and the money men can pull it off it should be a great stadium to travel too and see games. Location is easily accessible from the channel tunnel - for the NH this can only be a good thing for growing rugby support.

ANYTHING would be better than stade de france.

damage_13 wrote:ANYTHING would be better than stade de france.

How so?

I've never been, but I've heard a lot of people complain about the Stade De France without ever really finding it out why. What's up with it?

personally, when I've been there its a pain in the arse to get out of, looks badly designed with smelly, sub-standard facilities.

However the biggest problems have always been the knock on effect of its siting as the Irish found out during the 6N.

The consortium running it are a bunch of shysters too, the FRU have been conned into dealing with them and have been planning to move since March (and some say for the last two years).

the WORST thing about it though... has to be the Non-alcoholic beer!


The FFR= Fédération Française de Rugby wants to build their own multi-purpose covered stadium ( 80,000 capacity ) in Paris, even without public help. One of the reasons is the prices charged by the Stade de France.

That leaves the Stade de France with a income problem.
On of the solutions proposed by D. Douillet, French Sports Minister, would be to sell Stade de France shares to the public, after the end of the present leasing contract. One would have to see the details, but it looks at 1st sight like a very shady project.

Not mentioned in the article, that the Stade de France lessor has a special contract, which implies that the State takes over any losses.

dont like the stade de france but its mainly for its lack of atmosphere and location. the only good thing about it is the relatively good logistics in/out of it (with large entrance/exits and no bottleneck bar the train back to paris) : compared to twickenham where it takes 1 hour to get from the stadium to the nearest pub after a 6N game it is a walk in park..

this new stadium is 25km south of paris, a bit too far from my liking so wait and see what sort of transport they will get but am not convinced that it will be easy for evening Kick offs.