Actual Stadium News

By: Martha | October 21st, 2008

It’s hard out there for a pimp.

At a big press blowout yesterday (video here), firmer stadium plans were announced, complete with a smaller capacity and more conservative timeline than originally discussed just a few months ago.

The quick and dirty:

•The ground will be located at la plaine du Var in Saint-Isidore, west of Nice, a region that’s apparently ripe for development this fall.
•Construction is due to begin in 2011, with the ground ready for occupation during the first half of 2013.
•A new training facility will be ready by 2010.
•The cost of the ground is expected to be about €100 million, and will be paid for by a public-private partnership.
•The capacity is expected to be between 35,000 and 40,000.
•The development will include the ground itself and a separate, commercial area for shops and, of course, lots and lots of parking.

Now, I’ve not been around for anything but this tail end (one hopes) of the Stadium Saga, but the reasonable timeline and ground size, as well as the detailed nature of the proposal — they’ve already got general deadlines for construction bids laid out — make it seem like this one actually might happen.

Even if they hit their deadlines, 2013 is, obviously, a looooong way off, and this new proposal won’t do much to solve the immediate concerns of attracting and keeping big(ger)-name players, but if the club can survive until then, the future is a potentially a pretty encouraging one. Additionally, the new training ground for 2010 is massive; if that gets done, it’ll show players, supporters, and potential new recruits that the Nice — city and football club — are serious about their collective project.

The similarities are superficial at best, but reading about the stadium plan, I can’t help but think about this recent article about the rise of Hull City from the depths of English football to the top of the Premiership, and the massive importance building a new ground played in that rise. Nice (again, both city and club) are totally different from Hull, but the fact remains that a concrete step like a new, modern ground can be incredibly important in the life of a small club, particularly one that aspires to greater things.

As I said above, though, my knowledge of the Stadium Saga could fit in a shot glass — if I’m looking through rose-colored glasses, please do rip them off in the comments, and tell me how it really is. (Derby post coming as soon as I can get it watch. Assuming the Champions League doesn’t interfere.)