While the project was thought to be on track, the dossier of the grand stadium is once again in the spotlight with a decision that many people are waiting for regarding construction work that is at a standstill following the decision of the former Prefect, Pierre Breuil.
Consequently, questions are returning to the forefront with great momentum:
Is a capacity of 32,000 seats really necessary when the biggest matches against neighboring Marseilles or Monacan teams, or even for the arrival of teams from Paris, struggle to attract more than 15,000 spectators?
Would it not be better to renovate, or even rebuild, the Ray Stadium?
In short, the subject has resumed its leading role in a new saga of a summer in Nice, which sees itself saddled with a new “affair” to judge, thus raising the already quite scorching temperature by another notch.
To analyze this situation, Nice Première went to meet two famous communicators from Nice: Virginie Rossetti, head of communication for OGC Nice, and Fabrice Mauro, President of Sian d’Aqui and director of Espacem.
Nice Première: What is your feeling after the cancellation of the construction of the Grand Stade in Nice?
Virginie Rossetti: There was no cancellation, but simply a request for a suspension injunction from the Prefect. This means that the case will go to the administrative court, probably very quickly (during the month of August). We therefore dare to hope that it is only an administrative delay, that the City will be able to address the judge’s concerns, and that the works can very quickly resume.
Fabrice Mauro: Incomprehension and astonishment. We didn’t need this! Clearly, it’s a blow.
NP: What is your opinion on this Grand Stade project with multiple setbacks?
VR: Nothing is easy to build…but the mood is still optimistic within the Club.
FM: As a person from Nice, it saddens me; as a supporter of the Gym, I hope that the impacts on the objectives set by Maurice Cohen and his staff will be minimal.
NP: Do you think that behind this cancellation there could again be a possibility of corruption?
VR: The future will tell…but I don’t think this issue goes beyond the administrative problem and I obviously hope with all my heart that it’s not the case.
FM: I want to believe that it’s not the case. In any event, we do not possess tangible elements that would allow us to affirm this at the moment.
Let’s wait to see more clearly.
NP: Were you more “Ray e basta” or ‘Basta le Ray’?
VR: I am in favor of the Club growing at the national and European levels…for that, we need an effective tool…at Saint-Isidore, Ray, or elsewhere.
FM: Neither. To choose the best option, one must refer to the opinions of the main stakeholders. I believe that the club, its shareholders, its president, and the entire technical staff have clearly positioned themselves in favor of the new stadium. From there, I align with the professionals’ view. Who better than them know what is good for the OGC Nice of tomorrow?
NP: How would you envision the new Ray Stadium?
VR: We are not there yet…
FM: Should we consider it? I fear you might be jumping the gun. It is urgent…to wait for the next developments in this case.
NP: What name would you give it?
VR: If it is at Ray, I would simply name it “Stade du Ray”!
FM: Wherever it is built, we would like this stadium to be called: José Garibaldi.
