Île-de-France towns being assessed for PSG stadium

Valérie Pécresse, President of the Regional Council of Île-de-France, is canvassing leaders of towns within the region to see whether they could accommodate a new stadium for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

Pécresse announced on Friday that the region, in which Paris is located, would “open up all possibilities for a stadium outside Paris”. France Bleu Paris yesterday (Monday) reported that Pécresse has now contacted the mayors of Île-de-France towns that have a population of more than 10,000 with regards their views on their ability to host a new home for the Ligue 1 football club.

According to messages reported by France Bleu, Pécresse states that while she believes that PSG belongs at the Parc des Princes, she “has been contacted by the president of the club (Nasser Al-Khelaifi) to assess other sites in Île-de-France”.

Pécresse specifies that such a project would require “a 50 hectare site close to road and public transport, capable of accommodating a stadium and hotel infrastructure”. Mayors who “have sufficient land reserves or buildable wasteland and are interested” have been asked to contact her before March 16.

Al-Khelaifi last week stated that PSG would seek to move from the Parc des Princes following the City of Paris’ definitive declaration that the stadium is not for sale.

On February 6, the City moved to end the prospect of PSG acquiring the Parc des Princes, with Mayor Anne Hidalgo stating “the subject is closed”. The Council of Paris voted in favour of ensuring that PSG’s current home will remain the property of the City and will not be made available for sale, as the club has been hoping.

Relations between the City and PSG over the future of the Parc des Princes have been at a standstill for over a year, with the situation becoming increasingly fractious. PSG is currently engaged in a 30-year lease deal for the Parc with the City, which is due to expire at the end of 2043.

PSG is owned by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and the club has been forthright in its belief that the acquisition of the stadium is essential to it conducting a proposed expansion from the current capacity of around 48,000 to 60,000.

PSG last month opted against submitting a bid to buy the Stade de France in favour of turning its attention to renovating its current home or building a new stadium. PSG had until January 3 to submit a bid for the Stade de France, the 81,000-capacity stadium which serves as the home of France’s national football and rugby union teams.