“This initiative does not surprise me”.
Pierre Rabadan, deputy in charge of sport, the Olympic and Paralympic Games at the City of Paris, was not disturbed on Tuesday when he learned, via L'Equipe, that PSG had mandated the American company Legends Hospitality to help him find a site for the construction of a new stadium in view of his possible departure from the Parc des Princes.
“I think these steps have been taken for a long time, told us the former rugby player from Stade Français.
I'm even surprised that we're talking about it now.
They didn't wait until early 2023 to see if there was a place where they could build a stadium.
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For Pierre Rabadan, the leak of this information is only “the result of the last few months”.
As a reminder: a standoff has been going on between the club and the Paris City Hall for several weeks.
The PSG wishes to become the owner of the Park to carry out expansion work there.
But Anne Hidalgo said the Porte de Saint-Cloud stadium was "not for sale".
🎧 PODCAST |
Between PSG and the town hall of Paris, the showdown of the Parc des Princes
Leaving the stadium?
This is the threat brandished by the leaders of the club who would like to own, enlarge and modernize the enclosure.
But the city opposes it.
Story ⤵️https://t.co/XGnP2oG0Ob
— The Parisian |
Sourcecode (@sourcecode) February 6, 2023
Legends Hospitality is, as AFP reports, a member of the Sixth Street investment fund and specializes in the operation of sports venues.
In the United States, this company notably manages the Los Angeles Galaxy football stadium.
In Europe, it has worked with Tottenham and Liverpool and is responsible for part of the operation of Real Madrid's Santiago-Bernabeu stadium for twenty years.
Pierre Rabadan, he remains in line with the position displayed in mid-January during a press conference held at the Hôtel de Ville alongside Emmanuel Grégoire, First Deputy Mayor of Paris.
“We want them to stay.
They want to stay.
So we will find solutions, ”said the latter about the decision-makers of PSG.
“As you know, we are waiting to see each other again, recalls Rabadan on Tuesday.
We positioned ourselves to renew the dialogue.
The date is still not set but, anyway, we will have to talk to each other.
It now seems necessary to me that the discussions resume.
We are therefore waiting for this meeting date to move forward.
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