In our article yesterday, we made good predictions. Indeed, after the partnership with the city for the Allianz Riviera stadium, it is the German insurance company that will invest in the Stade Niçois, with a promotion to Pro D2 within a few years being the goal.
It was during a press conference, which gathered Christian Estrosi, deputy-mayor of Nice, Jacques Richier, Chairman and CEO of Allianz France, and Tony Catoni, the president of Stade Niçois, that the project was unveiled.
In his speech, the mayor recalled, through a history of the club, that rugby has left a significant mark on the sporting history of Nice. He then explained that the matches of RC Toulon in Nice demonstrated the need for rugby in Nice and that the public was in attendance.
After announcing that the city hall will increase the current subsidy granted to the club (470,000 euros), Christian Estrosi then unveiled the plans for the future infrastructures at the Arboras stadium: a gym, training fields, new stands with a capacity of 10,000 seats, all for a cost of 13 million euros by 2017.
Jacques Richier then revealed that the German company will invest the sum of 350,000 euros next season in sponsorship, thus becoming the main shirt sponsor. Allianz will also be active in the search for other commercial partners.
The president of Allianz France explained this investment by emphasizing that his company was “very committed to sports, at an amateur, semi-professional, and professional level.” But there is also the economic argument (100,000 clients in the Alpes-Maritimes).
Tony Catoni expressed himself as “happy, quite simply.” The training of young players will play an important role in this project. The president of Stade Niçois also wanted to thank the volunteers who work alongside him.
The challenge now is to unite the energies and provide the foundation of professionalism necessary to reach the top, and especially, to stay there!
