Rugby: the French XV will not play at the Stade de France without “serious proposals” from the buyers

The two candidates for the Stade de France concession must “understand that they must make serious proposals to us,” the president of the French Rugby Federation Florian Grill told AFP. “Otherwise, we’ll go play elsewhere.” “Each match not played at the Stade de France was a loss of earnings of two million euros (...) I set three rules for the takeover candidates: the rent must not increase not and even that income increases, that we are compensated during the work if there is any and that we can - at our own pace - be involved in the subject and join the table,” explained Florian Grill.

“For the moment, based on the first conversations we are having, the specifications are not met. So I'm not closing the door on continuing to play in the provinces if I don't have satisfactory elements at the Stade de France. Or even play elsewhere,” continued the boss of French rugby. The State, owner of the Dyonisian enclosure, launched two parallel procedures in March 2023: that of a sale and that of the renewal of the concession. The current concession granted in 1995 to the Vinci-Bouygues consortium (two thirds, one third) expires in June 2025.

There are only two offers left in the running and only for a concession: the Vinci/Bouygues consortium and the events group GL Events associated with “Paris Entertainment Company”, the former SAE POPB operating company, majority owned by the city. from Paris. These two candidates were interviewed at the beginning of February by the State.

“The National Rugby League relocated to Spain (to San Sebastian for the Top 14 semi-finals, Editor’s note), which was a huge success. If the Stade de France does not provide satisfactory solutions for the French Rugby Federation (...) we will be able to find alternative solutions,” explained Grill. “We are going to discuss, the negotiation is open. Now, one of the two actors must understand that, if he wants to have the French Rugby Federation, he must do much more. Otherwise, they will manage to make money with other activities,” he concluded.

The FFR has an operating deficit of around 40 million euros over two years. “We need to make 10 million euros in savings and get 5 million euros in additional net revenue,” explained Grill. Due to renovation work before the 2024 Olympic Games, the French XV, which traditionally plays at the Stade de France, played its home matches in the Six Nations Tournament in Marseille (against Ireland) and Lille (against Ireland) to Italy) before receiving England in Lyon on March 16.