The Communauté d’Agglomération de Bastia (Cab) has approved the final phase of redevelopment work for the home of French Ligue 2 football club SC Bastia, 32 years after the project first commenced.
The Stade Armand-Cesari first opened in 1932, but had been at the centre of a redevelopment scheme that had stalled. However, the final phase of work, which will cost €12m (£10.27m/$12.26m) according to French newspaper Corse-Matin, has now been given the green light bringing the total project cost up to €52m.
The final phase of works is expected to begin in January 2024, ready for completion in 2025. The work will see a roof installed for the two remaining uncovered stands, a restaurant added to the north stand, a museum developed and photovoltaic panels added to cover the south and east car parks. Facilities around the stadium will also be enhanced, while the media centre will be modernised.
Louis Pozzo di Borgo, President of the Cab, said: “This mandate will be that of achievements, and the stadium is one of our priorities. We must generate revenue from this space which costs us money every year and brings us zero euros. This can’t go on any longer. That’s why I’m presenting this project to you, which aims to create spaces that will allow us to generate revenue.”
Owned by the Cab, the Corsican club has benefited from playing rent free at the 16,000-capacity stadium for a number of years. However, Di Borgo said this arrangement will now end.
He added: “I am going to meet the president of the club, Claude Ferrandi, to open the discussions concerning the terms of the concession which will bind us with the club. We will discuss the financial part and meet again in a few weeks to finalise things. But free (use) is over.”
Image: SC Bastia
