The people of Nice and all football lovers were present on Sunday, September 22 at the Allianz Riviera to attend the inauguration and the Nice-Valenciennes match, which was played to a full house. The City of Nice, OGC Nice, Nice Eco Stadium, and Allianz France pulled out all the stops to make this moment an event full of emotions.
A festive atmosphere reigned from the forecourt to the stadium, passing through the walkways for this historic moment for the City of Nice. Both young and old enjoyed the lively spectacle, brought to life by dozens of artists!
The unveiling of the tribune names by the public, a film projection on the stadium’s construction, a pyrotechnic show… everything was in place for the spectators to experience a day full of surprises and emotions.
Many personalities were present to share these emotional moments with the public. Among them were Camille Muffat, Olympic swimming champion, and Nice-born judoka Loïc Pietri, recent World Champion in Rio in the – 81kg category.
On this occasion, OGC Nice brilliantly won its first match in its new setting against FC Valenciennes.
Christian Estrosi, Deputy Mayor of Nice, President of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis: “This is a historic moment that we have just shared. The people of Nice have been waiting for this stadium for 20 years. This magnificent structure meets our ambitions in terms of design, functionality, sustainable development, and conviviality. EURO 2016 is proof of this: the City of Nice was selected by France to host matches of this great championship. This festive, warm, and emotional inauguration was a real success! The Allianz Riviera is the first major equipment of the Eco-Valley, symbolizing the profound economic transformation of our territory.”
Xavier Lortat-Jacob, President of Nice Eco Stadium: “This inauguration is a unique moment for the Allianz Riviera; after the incredible human adventure of the past 24 months of construction, during which a technical feat was accomplished, this day opened the door to a new era for Nice. The Allianz Riviera will become the living place everyone awaits, a place as the inauguration – festive, convivial, popular, and diverse.”
Jean-Pierre Rivère, President of OGC Nice: “I think our supporters were delighted with this day; they discovered a magnificent stadium that set an extraordinary atmosphere capped with a very good result… A good start for the Club.”
“We have just experienced a strong and unforgettable moment and are delighted to have associated the Allianz name with this magnificent venue. The success of this inauguration paves the way to share other events full of emotion with our clients, partners, distribution networks, and, more generally, the public,” declares Jacques Richier, Chairman and CEO of Allianz France.
Jean-Michel Wilmotte, architect and President of the Wilmotte & Associés SA agency: “It is a particularly moving moment to see this stadium alive today. It is extraordinary for an architect and their team to discover what they have imagined and that sketches become reality… Light, transparency, and conviviality: the Allianz Riviera is comfortable and one feels good there! This stadium is the fruit of magnificent work by architects, engineers, and builders; it’s a flagship project for the city of Nice: we are proud and happy to be here today.”
Eric Ciotti, Deputy, President of the General Council of the Alpes-Maritimes: “I attended each stage of this exceptional construction site, and tonight I feel great emotion for this inauguration. A new sanctuary for Azurian sport, a splendid architectural work, a place of life and activity, and a formidable tool for international influence, the Allianz Riviera is the lair where we will vibrate together. With its major contribution, the General Council of the Alpes-Maritimes shows its ambition for a facility that will host sporting, cultural, and festive events and will be the symbol of the excellence of the Alpes-Maritimes.”
