January 29 – The French Football Federation (FFF) and French Rugby Federation (FFR) are preparing to join forces to manage the Stade de France if negotiations with GL Events for the stadium’s operation collapse.
According to L’Équipe, the FFF and FFR are concerned about the terms GL Events may impose if awarded the 30-year operations contract, set to begin in August. Should the deal fall through, the two federations are reportedly prepared to take over management themselves to safeguard their national teams’ interests.
Opened in January 1988 prior to the World Cup in France than summer, GL Events has proposed a €100 million renovation plan to transform the Stade de France into a premier “major events destination”—a vision that could potentially limit the FFF and FFR’s control over hosting rights. GL Events entered exclusive negotiations with the French government in December 2024, and has been the frontrunner to secure the long-term operations contract.
Late last year, a group under the name ‘Stade de France Notre Bien Commun’ sought to incorporate the FFF and FFR into the stadium’s ownership model, but this proposal was rejected by Fin Infra, the state body overseeing investment projects.
Currently, Stade de France is managed by construction firms Vinci and Bouygues, whose bid – despite including a €400 million upgrade plan and a shared ownership model with the FFF and FFR – was ultimately dismissed.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain has officially ruled itself out of the stadium saga.
Initially flirting with the idea of swapping the Parc des Princes for the 80,698-seater national arena, the club opted against applying for operating rights. Reports suggest PSG’s owners, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), will instead refocus on acquiring full ownership of Parc des Princes – though relations with the Paris city government remain frosty over that prospect.
With PSG out of the equation, the Stade de France remains at a crossroads. The final decision will be made only after the negotiation phase, which is expected to be completed by the end of January.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1738240971labto1738240971ofdlr1738240971owedi1738240971sni@g1738240971niwe.1738240971yrrah1738240971