Could the Girondins return to the Matmut Atlantique? The Bordeaux Metropolis has “formally ordered” the stadium operator (SBA, a subsidiary of the Vinci and Fayat construction groups) to reopen the stadium’s doors to the club. The president of the community, Christine Bost, announced this on Thursday.
The Girondins’ next match in National 2 will take place on September 14 against Bourges, after a first match relocated to the Stade Bordelais. “There is a contract, it must be respected,” Christine Bost insisted to the press. If it is not executed despite the formal notice, in my opinion there is a fault.”
“I will not sell the stadium off”
The socialist elected official also stated that a sale of the stadium, whose future is weakened by the Girondins’ setbacks, is “not necessarily something to exclude” but that it is “not yet time to put an ad on Le Bon Coin”, the context not being favourable to a negotiation. “To sell, you need a buyer who is able to pay a price that suits the seller. I will not sell the stadium off.”
Built for Euro 2016 as part of a €310 million public-private partnership (PPP) running until 2045, the 42,000-seat stadium is owned by Bordeaux Métropole but operated by SBA, whose revenues are not directly linked to the Girondins: the resident club pays its rent to the Métropole, which then pays a fee to SBA.
The subsidiary is nevertheless asking to review its contract due to the Girondins’ relegation to amateur status. According to it, by abandoning its professional status, the club has “at the same time” renounced its status as “resident club” of the stadium, thus releasing SBA from its contractual obligations.
But the community retorts that the Girondins remain the resident club and that the Matmut operating contract remains in force. The matches must therefore be held there to ensure ticket revenue. This is also one of the two conditions set by the commercial court to avoid a liquidation of the club, placed in receivership at the end of July, noted Christine Bost.
The Métropole has committed to implementing the other condition: not demanding rent from the Girondins this season. It also disputes the amount of fees related to the matches put forward by SBA. The next hearing on the recovery procedure will take place on September 17.