Major works have been undertaken at La Beaujoire, in Nantes, so that the stadium can host two world-class sporting events: the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games. In addition to these specifications, there are the requirements of UEFA since FC Nantes has qualified in the Europa League. A project started in January and which should be completed in the summer of 2023. The cost of the work is nearly 15 million euros in total for Nantes Métropole.
Among the main changes expected, the lawn has been replaced and an electronic ticket control system with turnstiles is to be installed.
A brand new lawn
It had been more than 20 years since the lawn at the Beaujoire stadium had been changed, it’s done! It was completely replaced at the beginning of August. The dimensions of the pitch did not correspond to the specifications of the Rugby World Cup. The lawn was thus enlarged by 10 meters in length, 7 meters in width. More shock-absorbing clearance spaces have also been placed on the exteriors to protect the rugby players.
The surroundings of the field have also been secured by removing the concrete pads at the foot of the stands. The handrails have been brought up to standard with a new barrier system designed to prevent spectators from entering the field. Finally, the asphalt has been reinforced, in particular to better withstand the holding of concerts.
Like the previous one, the new lawn is semi-synthetic. A full-time gardener is in charge of taking care of them on a daily basis, there will be up to six of them on match days. An innovative lawn, because it is a first in France, drains will be tested to recover rainwater.
She cost 2 million euros.
– Leila Mechaouri
A new electronic ticket control system
UEFA requires the installation of a turnstile system with electronic ticket control to accommodate European clubs. A new ticket office will be built in the coming months and as a matter of urgency, 34 turnstiles have been rented. There are still 20 missing to accommodate 35,000 spectators inside the stadium.
But the Métropole obtained an exemption on the part of UEFA so that the missing turnstiles are temporarily replaced by a system of checks by “hand showers”.
It’s not DIY! – Ali Rebouh, vice-president of Nantes Métropole in charge of high-level sport
“It’s not DIY!pleads Ali Rebouh, vice-president of Nantes Métropole in charge of high-level sport. If FC Nantes had qualified for the UEFA Cup in 2023, the subject would not even be on the table today. Obviously we are delighted with the qualification of FC Nantes, but there was a calendar situation that was not in phase. However, it is not DIY. We will be able to host the matches without any problem.”
We are late ! – Luc Delatour, stadium manager at FC Nantes
For his part, the stadium manager at FC Nantes, Luc Delatour, salutes the responsiveness of the Metropolis to meet the specifications of UEFA “in a record time”, even if he would have liked this work to have been better anticipated. “We are late! We are not good! I even think what must be the only Ligue 1 club with this system of ‘showers’! We were impatient, we would have liked it to be done before. It’s like that. We’re not into criticism.”
All the turnstiles must be installed and the new ticket office built in May 2023for a blow of 6 million euros.
– Leila Mechaouri