Reminder: Senator Mayor of Nice Jacques Peyrat announced on July 13 the suspension of the construction of the new stadium in Nice, which was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2007. This decision follows an appeal from the prefecture of the Alpes Maritimes. A suspension order was requested by the judge of the administrative court. The appeal will be heard in Marseille in mid-October.
“The hypothetical late non-compliance of a censor ruins the hopes of businesses, a city hall, a population for a club that we cherish. I call for common sense. Viva Nissa!” The vindictive and passionate statement of Ange Ferracci, CEO of Acotherm, encapsulates all the speeches made at the gathering. Some were calmer, more technical, more hesitant in diction, but they demonstrated solidarity for the realization of this project.
“Being here on the pitch is a dream,” says Georges Dao, president of CARI, in his preamble. He laments that Nice, the fifth-largest city in France, only has a stadium ranking it 22nd in spectator capacity within a sports venue. A 33,000-seat stadium would position it in ninth place. “If the cancellation is confirmed, much energy and invested funds would have been wasted,” adds the president of CARI. Christian Bondil, General Director of the Grand Stade, asserts “that the fight for this project is right and noble. Instead of this gathering, we should have seen five cranes and workers at work. Jean-François Lamour, Minister of Youth and Sports, cited us as an example for the financial setup similar to the cities of Marseille, Lyon, and Lille which wish to build a stadium. We also have the support of Frédéric Thiriez (president of the National Football League). After the shock and incomprehension of the suspension decision, it is time to take action.”
The project has received the support of Rosaire Di Gregorio, president of the Saint-Isidore neighborhood committee. He is astonished by the attitude of the former prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes Pierre Breuil: “He approved bad projects here in the neighborhood and is blocking the one that was finally good for Saint-Isidore. A stadium would give a positive impetus to our village-neighborhood.” Maurice Cohen, President of OGC Nice Côte d’Azur, Eric Borghini, President of the Côte d’Azur District of the F.F.F, and Gilles Zamolo, coordinator of BSN 85 (the Nice ultra supporters group) each highlighted the sporting stakes of building a large stadium in Nice. “We strongly support the stadium project. We suffer from the dilapidation of the Stade du Ray, especially during bad weather. We also hope this new stadium will be a vector for all the associative movements in the city of Nice,” emphasizes Gilles Zamolo. Eric Borghini also spoke on behalf of Jean-Pierre Escalettes, president of the F.F.F. He stressed the creation of a training center, essential for him to conclude with a wish shared by all the speakers: “I hope the administrative justice will allow OGC Nice to soon shine at the pinnacle of Europe.” Maurice Cohen had to approve. The President of OGC Nice reminded that with a larger stadium, revenues would increase and the club could bridge the budget gap that has widened with teams like Rennes, before solemnly adding: “it is essential to have a large stadium. It is a tool commensurate with what we want to do. It is urgent to build it. If we have to wait five years, I’m not sure OGC Nice can survive.”
These poignant words from President Cohen concluded the gathering just before the anthem Nissa la Bella was sung. He could be reassured by the synergy of actors around the project, those who obviously have invested, but also the people of Nice, 75% of whom are in favor of building the large stadium according to a survey conducted last week by Artenice consulting.
