the Stadium of Toulouse will be ready assures the metropolis
To the question Toulouse could be withdrawn from the five meetings which must take place at the Stadium during the Rugby World Cup next fall, the vice-president of the metropolis in charge of sports Philippe Plantade answers “no there is no risk of cancellation of a match in Toulouse“. The metropolis certainly thinks of being able to host all the meetings taken: Japan – Chile (September 10), New Zealand – Namibia (September 15), Georgia – Portugal (September 23), Japan – Samoa (September 28) and Fiji – Portugal (October 8).
However, as we revealed our colleagues from the Midi Dispatch
, the Stadium is not yet approved by international bodies. The enclosure, used by the football players of the TFC, still has problems with bringing it up to standard nine months before the start of the competition and the land expansion works have not yet been carried out.
An approval planned on the wire, in September
The guest of France Bleu Occitanie this Wednesday, Philippe Plantade explains that “the Stadium cannot be approved until all the work has been completed. That is to say in September 2023.” Works to lengthen the in-goal area and widen the sidelines will be finalized at the end of the Ligue 1 football season, so as not to disturb the championship. The last TFC match, scheduled at the Stadium, will take place on May 27.
Could this work not be carried out during the interruption of the championship, while the Football World Cup will take place in Qatar? Philippe Plantade replies that “the work to widen the pitch has already been carried out on the side of the Taton and Revault stands during the truce, these are permanent works. Provisional work will then take place next summer.” This will involve installing a removable wooden platform, with a synthetic coating that will act as a lawn.
The Stadium had been renovated in 2015, but the international rules have changed, namely the widening of the in-goals and the width of the field. Regarding the upgrading to standards in terms of safety, the vice-president of the metropolis in charge of sports affirms that “the specifications are respected“.
“We are calm, since we are on time for the opening of the World Cup and the first match on September 10 in Toulouse.”
Despite the enlargement works, “the number of seats for spectators will not be reduced“says Philippe Plantade.
The roof of the Stadium is currently under construction and it will last until the end of May. The roof will be gradually degraded, the supports will therefore no longer be sheltered from the weather, several areas are not covered. This will be the case for part of the Revault corner, for example on January 1 for the reception of Ajaccio.
Do we need a new stadium in Toulouse? “The cost would be excessive”
Stade Toulousain has been playing sold out since the start of the season, the derby next Friday against Castres at the Stadium promises to be sold out with 32,000 spectators expected. The Champions Cup match against Sale at Ernest Wallon last weekend brought together 19,000 supporters, in full. Are the stadiums in Toulouse undersized? Should a new stadium be built?
“A new stadium is a huge cost to incur, for us excessive. It takes more than 500 million euros to build a stadium. We offer access to the Stadium to see matches at very reduced prices four times a year, in agreement with the TFC, respecting the specifications of the foot. Our stadiums are undoubtedly of sufficient size. The Stade Toulousain may have an expansion project at Ernest Wallon, but that is a private project. UN rugby city project
is still being studied by Ernest Wallon, without further details of the part of the region or the club for the moment.