Like Paris, Marseille or Tours, Orléans will not install a giant screen or fan zone for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar (November 20-December 18). “We had made the decision, for some time (…) already in relation to the deaths that there may have been during the construction of the stadiums, in relation to the air-conditioned stadiums which are not in line with the ecological policy carried out by the city of Orléans” explains the sports assistant Thomas Renault who also says, on a personal level, to consider as a “aberration” of “play a World Cup in the middle of November, which upsets the calendar.”
Broadcasting matches would be expensive for the municipality
If the period is not conducive to outdoor fan-zones, with winter cold, for the city, a broadcast on a giant screen would mean a bill of several thousand euros. “Around 30,000 euros for three games” specifies Thomas Renault. “Today, there is no question of putting so much money for a broadcast like that. I think we can do much better with such a sum.”
I greatly prefer that our fellow citizens go to consume in [des] restaurants
Thomas Renault invites supporters to visit the restaurants and cafés in Orléans which broadcast the matches. A warmer atmosphere, he assures, and which will do good to local businesses. “More and more cafeterias and restaurateurs offer the broadcast of matches. I much prefer that our fellow citizens go and eat in these restaurants, to increase their turnover.” And if France qualifies for the semi-finals or even the final? Could the City of Orléans change its mind about the giant screen? “We are not used to changing our positions (…) no, it will not change. Whatever happens, it won’t change.”