As part of the campaign for the municipal elections of March 2026, the outgoing mayor Christian Estrosi presented, on Monday, February 16, at the Musée National du Sport at the Allianz Riviera, the sports section of his project. Before club leaders and members of the Nice sports movement, he detailed ten measures for the next term.
During this press conference dedicated to the future of sports in Nice, Christian Estrosi stated that his project builds on the actions initiated since 2008. “The image I have of sports is that of sports for everyone,” he declared, mentioning the 3,500 volunteers, the 800 clubs, the 70,000 licensed members, and the 100,000 participants the city boasts.
The outgoing mayor defended his track record, recalling that 200 clubs are subsidized each year with an amount of 9 million euros, and nearly 10 million euros per year have been invested in sports facilities. Nice now has 220 facilities, including 10 swimming pools, 1 ice rink, and 40 stadiums. He cited several achievements, including the Allianz Riviera, the Camille Muffat Olympic pool, and the Loïc Pietri dojo, as well as hosting major international competitions such as Euro 2016, the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the 2024 Olympics, and the arrival of the 2024 Tour de France in Nice.
Asked about the focus on major events, he estimated that they generate “hundreds of millions of euros” for the local economy and indicated that the tourism turnover now reaches 2.9 billion euros per year, up from 1.6 billion a few years earlier. According to him, nearly 50% of the additional tourist tax is reinvested for the benefit of sports.
Quantified Investments and Sports Facilities
Running for re-election, Christian Estrosi presented a program structured around ten measures. Among the main announcements are the construction of a 3,000-seat sports arena at the Auvare site for a projected cost of 40 million euros, as well as a new 12,500-seat rugby stadium at Arboras, estimated at 60 million euros, with a temporary stand planned for summer 2026.
The pool plan will continue with the renovation of several pools and the creation of new facilities, including an additional 50-meter pool in the west of the city. The Jean-Bouin site will be transformed into an aquatic center, while existing facilities will be modernized to reduce energy consumption.
The project also includes the creation of a 1,000 m² Sport-Health House, dedicated to physical activity on medical prescription and supporting the public, funded by private partners. A plan for urban sports includes creating a skatepark at Place de la Brigue, renovating the Jean-Bouin site, creating a bowl in Carras, and integrating a pump track into the future green corridor in the west.
Additionally, doubling the “sports coupons” to 40 and 80 euros is intended to support the most modest families. The program also includes the creation of a cycling track around the Charles-Ehrmann sports park, the delivery of a new synthetic football pitch in the west, and the establishment of parking lots for the storage of the sports associations’ minibuses.
Finally, the outgoing mayor presented the members of his team dedicated to sports, among whom are Pascal Condomitti, José Cobos, and Gérard Holtz, who are responsible for carrying this part of the program within the municipal campaign.
