The debate over the ownership of the Stade Vélodrome is heating up again. Speaking on L’Équipe de Greg this Wednesday, Marseille mayor Benoît Payan said he is open to selling the stadium—but only for a staggering €1 billion.
“It’s a stadium that isn’t profitable and costs a huge amount to maintain,” said Payan, referring to the high operating costs of the venue, which was renovated ahead of Euro 2016. While Olympique de Marseille manages and rents the stadium, it does not own it—an increasingly rare situation among Europe’s elite clubs.
Only the Right Buyer
Payan made it clear: no outside investors or speculative funds. The city would only consider a sale to a serious, committed owner of OM. “If McCourt says, ‘We’ll buy it,’ and it belongs to the club—then yes, it’s a possibility.”
As of now, no formal project is on the table, but the door is open—if the right offer and vision align. Will OM take the leap and bring the Vélodrome under its full control? Not without a billion-euro move.
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