http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f7/Olympique_Marseille_logo.png/150px-Olympique_Marseille_logo.png
Olympique de Marseille

9x Champion:
1937, 1948, 1971, 1972, 1989,
1990, 1991, 1992, 2010

10x Cup Winner (record):
1924, 1926, 1927, 1935, 1938,
1943, 1969, 1972, 1976, 1989

2x League Cup:
2010, 2011

3x Supercup:
1971, 2010, 2011

1x UEFA Champions League:
1993


Tenant: Olympique de Marseille
Extension: 60,013 --> 67/68,000 seats (6,000 VIP seats)
Opening: 2014
Architects: SCAU, Atelier 9, jointly with Bouygues (construction)
Cost: €273M, stadium + real estate program (Public–Private Partnership: Local authorities & Bouygues)
Renewable energy (photovoltaic cells)
Rainwater collection system

(Euro 2016 candidate City)


Here are the first official renderings & pics of the refurbished Vélodrome....

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/1586/olympiquedemarseille3x1.jpg
Copyright@ MIR (http://mir.no/)

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/9849/olympiquedemarseille2x1.jpg
Copyright@ MIR (http://mir.no/)

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/8846/olympiquedemarseille4x1.jpg
Copyright@ MIR (http://mir.no/)

http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/6131/olympiquedemarseille5x1.jpg
Copyright@ MIR (http://mir.no/)

http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/4526/olympiquedemarseille6x1.jpg
Copyright@ MIR (http://mir.no/)

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/987/olympiquedemarseille1x1.jpg
Copyright@ MIR (http://mir.no/)

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/715/100621vel.jpg
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/9696/100621vel2.jpg

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/7456/100621vel6.jpg

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9771/4945.jpg

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/3513/capturedcran20100621181.jpg

http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/2387/capturedcran20100621184.jpg

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/2387/capturedcran20100621184.jpg

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/2387/capturedcran20100621184.jpg

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2387/capturedcran20100621184.jpg

http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/2387/capturedcran20100621184.jpg

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/5227/capturedcran20100621184w.jpg

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/2387/capturedcran20100621184.jpg

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/2387/capturedcran20100621184.jpg

http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/2538/47214164227f9d78ee2ab.jpg




---------------------------
old

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/120/velodrome.jpg

--------------------------------old
Facts of the possible upgrate :

Architect : Christophe Gulizzi (Italy)
Time : Upgrate to be finished by 2010
Capacity : 80 000 all seated and a roof.
Additions : 3000 m2 of lodges. Saloons, restaurants, an amphitheater, retail zone, offices for a total of 43 200 m2.
Cost : 140 millions euros from private funds

Actual news : agreement of the first investor of the football club, private funds money estimated around 100 millions euros, 40 millions more to find, favor of the city mayor and council. more news to come :)

Actual Velodrome Stadium :
http://www.gsautominiature.com/prodimg/5764l.jpg

Rendering after the upgrate :
http://eur.i1.yimg.com/eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/sp/afpji/20051214/051214174750.6erm2wl90b.jpg

Facts of the possible upgrate :

Architect : Christophe Gulizzi (Italy)
Time : Upgrate to be finished by 2010
Capacity : 80 000 all seated and a roof.
Additions : 3000 m2 of lodges. Saloons, restaurants, an amphitheater, retail zone, offices for a total of 43 200 m2.
Cost : 140 millions euros from private funds

Actual news : agreement of the first investor of the football club, private funds money estimated around 100 millions euros, 40 millions more to find, favor of the city mayor and council. more news to come :)

Actual Velodrome Stadium :
http://www.gsautominiature.com/prodimg/5764l.jpg

Rendering after the upgrate :
http://eur.i1.yimg.com/eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/sp/afpji/20051214/051214174750.6erm2wl90b.jpg

Mekky, I love that model you have of the stadium.

Nice one.

Nice design

gaudin (mayor) said yesterday that it was not for before 2012 because of the long process , that the project will be chosen by concourse ( not strengthly the one of gulizzi ) , and that 80000 increasing was maybe a little too much , several thousands of seats being useful though .

Good,

This stadium needs an upgrade fast...I hope it happens.

Capacity : 80 000 all seated and a roof.

Rendering after the upgrate :
http://eur.i1.yimg.com/eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/sp/afpji/20051214/051214174750.6erm2wl90b.jpg
Where's the roof???

Different but nice design though.

Shame they couldn't have upgraded the stadium in time for the Rugby World Cup next year...

http://www.stadiumguide.com/marseillenew3.jpg

http://www.stadiumguide.com/marseillenew2.jpg

This has got 'not going to happen' written all over it!!

Ugly. People might like it now but they will hate it in 20 years.

does Velodrome needs 80,000 seats. what are the actual attendences?

does Velodrome needs 80,000 seats. what are the actual attendences?

Maybe 80,000 would be too much but OM are a very well supported club. By far the best supported in France. They currently average just under 50,000 with a stadium capacity of about 58,000.

I'd have thought that an increase to no more than 70,000 would be about right.

http://www.stadiumguide.com/marseillenew3.jpg

http://www.stadiumguide.com/marseillenew2.jpg
Those pictures don't show for some reason :?

Here's the link -
http://www.stadiumguide.com/marseillenew.htm

as soon as they have a competitive team again, 80.000 seats will appear not to be enough. I think they under-estimate the possible attendances, especially concerning the european champion's league. Marseille is THE city of football (soccer) in France. By the way, I never liked the current design. It's windy and looks fragile from the outside. I'd have preferred a San Siro-like structure. But as long as it hasn't been decided yet, I keep hoping for such a huge structure and capacity.
check renderings here (http://www.stadiumguide.com/marseillenew.htm)

Good,

This stadium needs an upgrade fast...I hope it happens.

This stadium definately needs upgrading, I was there last week as an away fan and from an away fans point of view it was an awful experience.

The visiting fans are only allocated a small corner of the main open side, surrounded by a 25ft fence, no-one sits in there as many of the seats in this all seated area are missing so everyone stands to try and gain a sight of the pitch.

This may not be so much of a problem in the rest of the ground but personally I found that the ground may look nice on TV, but being there is a completely different experience.

One thing I should add is that if this stadium does get a roof those home fans will be incredibly noisy, they are really vociferous without a roof so just imagine how they would be under cover.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/95/Olympique_Marseille.png/150px-Olympique_Marseille.png
Olympique de Marseille

8x League:
1937, 1948, 1971, 1972, 1989,
1990, 1991, 1992

10x Cup (record):
1924, 1926, 1927, 1935, 1938,
1943, 1969, 1972, 1976, 1989

1x UEFA Champions League:


now :
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/1372/velodromepi0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

80.500 seats project (some pix without the roof for inside view):
http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/2429/futur1kq3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/2662/futur2uk6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Hard to believe it is the same place isn't it?
Should became reality after the rugby world cup (fall 07).

Vilak you had to open this one, hey!?
I have to admit it's really a nice design!
And after all let's go crazy this project good be a little boost for the city!
If they go any further, that is!

I wonder how much this one would cost?

I Couldn't resist....

The team, the city and the people living here need and deserve this stadium.

It Would cost around 140 millions €.

The stadium as it is now make me vomit. It's a shame :
- horrible look
- terrible accoustic (fans chants are lost in the sky)
- windy
This horror cost 391.9 millions francs (that make around 60 millions €) in 97 and, believe me, people even the die hard fans of OM hate it!!!

Oh I know, I do hate it too!
I always though they deserved a roof... it looked good one season after the world cup. But it's still nice under the perfect sun and when PSG is getting is ass whopped by OM once every now and then.

Today it looks like ...crap, the coffin would be nice. But a 140 for 20000 seats and a roof that has to be world record for simple expansion! Nowadays a 140 gets you what a brand new 40000 seater!

140M is a lot of money but due to Velodrome actual configuration, you can"t expand it at low cost.

We're not just talking about adding 20.000 seats, we're talking about doing this thing PLUS :
adding a roof for 80.500 seats
changing an horrible stadium into a piece of art
receiving thousand of fans in comfortable conditions
having the most beautiful stadium ever built in France
making proud millions of the provence people.

And there will surely be a business center, shops and luxury suites

This is Marseille so this effort have to be made.

Although Gaudin said that the city didn't have any money to spend on upgrading the stadium right now. Financing this upgrade will be OM's job. They have to finance 140 with private partners and probably a little mortgage.

Good speed

Put a four star hotel in it... Marseille needs a few of them!

of course it's a lot of money but it will be found.
I can't believe how a such hated stadium could pass the 2010 eve.

There was also a project from a student in architecture from marseille who covered the stadium and added 1200 seats.
No cost available for this one because it's just a fantasy from this young talent and won't be done.

here's the pic for your knowledge:
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/7190/projetdejeunetw7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Look nice isn't it?

That's not the same project: it's 1 200 seats only instead of 20 000.

Eomer:

The 20.000 expansion is a SERIOUS project requested by the powers that be for an upgrade they really want. Only the money is left to find because everybody in Marseille is ok to expand the stadium.

The 1200 expansion is a just a FANTASY designed by a young architecture student that he made just for the pleasure of doing it. It has much its place in the "never built stadium" or "your own stadium design" topics but as it concerns marseille velodrome I included it in this topic.

Hey I think I like the student project better, more realistic, very nice roofing and I wouldn't do the 1200 new seats. YUp, I do like this one !

I prefer the 80.500 project. I've always favoured square stadiums to round stadiums but I have to admit the fantasy project is nice.
After all, the most important thing is to cover the seats...

Anyway, I would be very dispointed if the 80k project never happens.

I obviously am not a fan of Marseille, and I have limited knowledge of the city... where does the Velodrome fit in relation to the new skyscrapers being built?
I know the highrises are in the northern part of the city, but Marseille is a big city, so that could be anywhere

Do they have enough fans to fill it every second week? If so they must be one of the best supported teams in Europe

how did it look before 1998?

Before 1998, the velodrome looked like this :

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/306/vieuxvelodrome2ob9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img335.imageshack.us/img335/7407/000marseille1zm4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Bonus:
a model of the rejected project for world cup 1998
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/5046/projetabandonneg7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Do they have enough fans to fill it every second week? If so they must be one of the best supported teams in Europe

That's the big "?" Marseille has a 60000 seater and they don't really fill it each and every gameday. They used to have a wonderful fanbase, one of the best in Europe, but after that many years away from champions league, fans tend to stay home on gameday. they still have something like 40000 season tickets holder. It still makes them the biggest crowd of Ligue 1. Are they able to fill up a 80000 seater remains an enigma.

Before 1998, the velodrome looked like this :

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/306/vieuxvelodrome2ob9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img335.imageshack.us/img335/7407/000marseille1zm4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Bonus:
a model of the rejected project for world cup 1998
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/5046/projetabandonneg7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I always liked this project but thinking about it looks like an american stadium

The new one looks very nice ;)

of course it's a lot of money but it will be found.
I can't believe how a such hated stadium could pass the 2010 eve.

There was also a project from a student in architecture from marseille who covered the stadium and added 1200 seats.
No cost available for this one because it's just a fantasy from this young talent and won't be done.

here's the pic for your knowledge:
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/7190/projetdejeunetw7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Look nice isn't it?

the roof is great but i don't like how the student filled in the corners or the exterior of the main stand

Neda say :

I, too, don't know if they are able to fill a 80.000 stadium as they, as you said, have an average attendance of around 40/45k per match.
I bet that with a top noch stadium, fans would be more willing to go to the stadium. Then, attendance would grow and we could hope for a 55/65k attendance per match.
We don't asked them to sell out at every match, which is something that never happens on continental europe.
Marseille bosses have finally decided to build a strong team and to work on the long term.
So this expansion is vital.
Marseille need a comfortable stadium, a quality the velodrome doesn't have in the actual configuration.

Do you Frenchies know what a "white elephant" is?

I don't.

I do and it's exactly what this stadium is going to be!
Especially if Marseille keeps on taking beating like the one they took yesterday: 1-4 against Lyon in the Velodrome.
I do agree with you Vilak the velodrome is a piece of junk stadium! I do agree they need a roof and more comfort. I just disagree on the timing and the final goal!

Just thinking about it we, french, do like white elephants a lot!!!! lol

An empty stadium?

white elephant: a possession that is useless or troublesome, expensive to maintain or difficult to dispose of.

We're not in england, we don"t ask a stadium to be sold out on every match.
An average of 55.000 would be great.

pretty much all French stadiums will become white elephants if Lyon keep winning the title over and over again, you french fans surely don't think it's very good?

Is the stadium ever sold out?

Who is the arcitect? It looks very Calatrava.

Originally Posted by Vilak
We're not in england, we don"t ask a stadium to be sold out on every match.
An average of 55.000 would be great.

If the Velodrome already holds 60,000 people, what would the point be in increasing the stadiums capacity , if in your view, an average of 55,000 "would be great"?
:dunno:

^it's an average, meaning on certain games, they would like to get even bigger crowds, but they're limited due to the current capacity.
Like yesterday's game against Lyon, they had over 100.000 requests

Originally Posted by 3tmk
^it's an average, meaning on certain games, they would like to get even bigger crowds, but they're limited due to the current capacity.
Like yesterday's game against Lyon, they had over 100.000 requests

I understand what average means. My point is why increase the capacity for just a few games per season? At least 35,000 empty seats at most games will not please the money men, and you tell me a team (or it's fans) that likes to play football in a stadium that sparse of spectators?

Look at Juve in Italy. They are considering building a new stadium with a capacity of approx. 40,000 for that same reason.

What you have to understand is that the actual configuration of the stadium is a turnoff for certains people with almost every OM match on TV.
With a more comfortable/beautiful/accoustic-improved stadium, more people would come to be part of the velodrome feel.
Now a great stadium is an asset for teams. OM owner must thinks about the future. If he succeds to build and keep a strong team like lyon did, I think a 80.000 stadium won't be too big.
Talking of lyon, its winning streak won't turn us off from Ligue 1. To qualify for champion's league is very important from teams so our championship keeps all its interest for us.

It may be strange what I say, but I exctualy like the velodrome the way it is. Yeah it needs a roof and a fix up. But I like the cirkel form. I think it is an unique stadium for that. The only thing they will need to do is make the main stand round to and of course a roof. but in my opinion it is a pretty impressive stadium as it is

Yes the stadium sell out about 3/4 times a years for ligue 1 matches.
It also sell out for big matches on cup, league cup and europeans matches.
being at 80.500 would make it suitable for national team biggest matches.
the architecte of this stadium is the Marseille architecture school.
The architecte of the project is christophe Guilizzi.

Yes the stadium sell out about 3/4 times a years for ligue 1 matches.
It also sell out for big matches on cup, league cup and europeans matches.
being at 80.500 would make it suitable for national team biggest matches.
the architecte of this stadium is the Marseille architecture school.
The architecte of the project is christophe Guilizzi.

aaaah so it is rivalery with Paris what we are seeing here, good old French prestige! then I say make it 90.000 and deal one's and for all with those bastards from Paris...:doh:

Hey wait a sec I'm from Paris !!!

Parisien don't even care if Velodrome is bigger than Parc des Princes it's been the case for a huge while now!

Marseille wants to do it a 80000 seater. Fine, be my guest but they better don't come complaining if they cannot handle the cost and take care of it in the long haul. Marseille can already have national team games in either football or rugby. Does the stadium need a roof? That is a no brainer, make it comfy and a fully featured business center is a good idea. Say that it needs to be expanded to 80000 seats well it's just one of this ludicrous dreams that is poping all other europe. I have to say, fans in Marseille are the greatest we have they've been through thick and thin, they could fill the stadium up two years ago the club add 50000 request from potential season ticket holder and they turned them down. With the show that the team i putting on there's no way you want to go to the games. I do hope for french football's sake that they'll be able to come back to the top!

I see one point going in the stadium's way. If they do overhaul the immediate surrondings of the Velodrome, yes then make it bigger but only if you do rejuvenate this area of the city.

Last point right now this project is to be entirely privately funded they are not to receive a dime from the city or any other governing body.

neda say, you talking about very interesting things.

First of all, I would like to voice my opinion and disagreee with you because i think RC lens are better fans than OM fans.
Om have UEFA fame , Lens doesn't and they have about the same amount of sympathy and fanbase. Lens is the one that deserve a stadium expansion in France.

you talked about rivalry with paris. It's a natural, long time emulation between the two clubs but I would like to point one thing:
But now, Om has the bittest relationship ever with lyon, a club which announced monday that its new 60.000 retractable roof stadium building would start in early 2007 for an opening in 2010.
now the rivalry is about Lyon and Marseille. Maybe it has something to do with the urging of MArseille having the biggest stadium in France.
For 8 years, PSG never had a bigger stadium than OM and was OK with it.
some people find the actual velodrome being a nice place. I'm Ok with it but in term of supporter perception, it's light years away from europe big club standard.
I don't attend matches to Velodrome so I can't talk for anybody but almost everybody complained about it once they attended a match.

concerning National team, Stade France will remains as the national stadium until a 100.000 stadium is built in "ile de France" (which is Paris close neighborough), a thing that will never happen.

Ok ok

If lyon gets a 60000 seater, Marseille has to build something bigger because of one thing:t hey'll never catch up with Lyon savvy business skills! So here I go, OM get yourself a 80000, may the best club win on and off the pitch and lets Lyon win a new championship or two

aaaah so it is rivalery with Paris what we are seeing here, good old French prestige! then I say make it 90.000 and deal one's and for all with those bastards from Paris...:doh:

No offences in ment, just want the biggest stadium possible! That is my only interest realy

It seems most of you agree with me than Om should spend it's money on the team rather than its stadium.
This bigger stadium competion, whatever is real or in our mind, seems useless as long as team can't have a safe, equital competition

ah men that sucks, eventhough you're right. I want the big old bad stadiums! Don't think just do it!

Whatever we think, this project is almost a done deal.
The money will be assembled, they want it too much.
It's a good thing for france to have, like most of the other european top championship, two 70.000+ stadiums.

Whatever we think, this project is almost a done deal.
The money will be assembled, they want it too much.
It's a good thing for france to have, like most of the other european top championship, two 70.000+ stadiums.

in that way yes, and ofcourse I am all for it!!! (hehehe)
When the club goes broke, the stadium will still be there (and that's my only real interest, despite I like Olympique Marseille as a club too, would be a shame but well)
Now they have to build a 70 000 + stadium in Lyon and PSG cannot stay behind. Three badass stadiums (+ SDF) in France. Yep I am all for it!

skaP187:
in the "french football on the rise" topic, i described what Lyon new stadium will look like. it doesn't match your expectation (and mine) from the capacity standpoint but it will be a hell of a stadium. This is not a "maybe" project but a "will be done for sure" one.
Paris have a stadium where they feel comfortable and this stadium is not undefinitly expandable ("Parc des princes expansion" topic). For sure, you could expand it to 80.000 as a 98 world cup project showed it but this is too much beyond PSG owner financial possibilities. For Parc des Prince, don't expect an expansion above 46.000 to 54.000.
THAT's why Marseille wants to expand. Players, black-ties, fans, attendance, TV audience and Marseille hometown people ABSOLUTLY HATE the velodrome as it actually stands.

This is not a "maybe" project but a "will be done for sure" one.

How do you know that? Not to put your words in doubts, I'd like to know your source(s)!?

Aulas announced it tuesday just after have been honored "chevalier de la Legion d'honneur".
Only the site can change but the stadium and business complex will be build as I described it.

No I meant the velodrome extension you seem so sure it's going to happen I refered to that expansion.

Ah OK! I missed the spot.
Just because everybody wants it so much.
So, Yes, for me it's a "will be done for sure" project.

I hope deep in my heart that they fix up this stadium with a roof and make the main/bussenis stand round to. I think it is an impressive stadium as it is, only laks a roof MOP

What is a roof MOP???
I also am very pleased with this project.
A big, covered velodrome with an asymetrical look!
Astonishing.
Better that SDF. Should be the n°1 stadium in France.
I don't think there's enough place around the stadium to build a business center

I think that if you destroy some of the warehouses located next to the stadium there's enough room to build anything you want. But there's a catch you need autorization to do it and usually the city is all about it but will it be the case this time I'm not so sure? I hope they allow it and that pravete investor start something there besides if such a stadium is build it's then or never time to get some rejuvenation program in place for the area. Marseille also needs a multipurpose arena for shows and indoor sports. but that's another topic!

I'm not sure but it seems that everything that's around Velodrome is privatly owned.
so if you want to extand it further with shops, hotels and companies, you know the name of the game:
money, money, money.....

Not exactly everything the local Palais des sports (french for arena but generally crappier) is right there, there's also a very hold sport complex and warehouses who are not all in use. But yes you want to rejuvenate you need money and a lot of it. But really a new look stadium surrounded by shit holes well it's not that perfect an environment is it!? all they really need is a letter from city hall giving backing to some other investor to overhaul the zone. They do that all the time in North America can we do it in France I 'm not so sure but they should at least try.

It seems the project doesn't need to demolish or modify what's around the stadium.

True the project does not require any destruction in the surrounding.Only I do.

And quite frankly, the design is superb (I know some of you don't like it).

that's why you can't have this work of art surrounded by bullshitty warehouses and dirt fields

I don't think so because nobody cares...
Marsillians want a big/beautiful/comfortable stadium.
I deeply don't think they care about what kind of architecture the stadium area has. their eyes are only focused on the stadium

Their eyes are but not the one of the generous investor who's going to spend around a 140 and who want a small return on investment. Ireally don't think it's going to happen without at least a small retribution in land property.

Sure you"re right.
Perhaps the naming of the stadium should be done.
the "champignon de Paris" stadium would sounds good isn't it?

oh yes it would be good but more seriously I would not have any naming done it's not in the french culture or at least you should not do it with "historical" stadium if the velodrome was to be demolished and a new stade build then yes name it Stade Neuf Telecom or Khalifa Arena I don't give a f..ck.

If not leave it alone... The only stadium who in my opinion would not suffer
would be geoffroy guichard the stade Casino ou le Chaudron Géant.

I think when you name a stadium it's all about the brand image of the company behind it orange arena, thomson park, Motorola garden, Novotel Stadium are fine but some new stadium are having a rough start like the new dick's sporting goods park of denver that thing is bad.

So the RICARD arena would be a good name for Marseille perhaps.....:)
Anyway, I can't wait to have the lastest news about all this story.

I would have prefered Parc Pastis 51. But I really don't mind.

Yes, what really counts is that they find the money, it doesn't really matter if they name the stadium after a company.
So approx how much money can we hope with a naming of the stadium for, let's say, 10 years?

The thing is you can only name a stadium if you own the stadium which is not going to be the case. So I think they're will be no naming for the stadium itself. Or RLD is really, really good at getting things is way. However OM might play on the "Ricard field"... Naming the picth and not the stadium but this kind od scheme is unheard of in France.
In the case of Lyon it's easier, OL builds it, owns it and operates it they are in control of every aspect of this stadium. OM has the same problem he's not the owner just a tenant who has needs but no prerogative.

Rumors that RLD is about to sale the club could, if true, jeopardize the expansion.

Or May boost the project. Any new owner of this caliber already knows the situation of Marseille. If a guy like Gillett is coming then the project will probably get a serious review but he might go for it provided funding is found. Same for the other canadian "candidate". Financially OM is in a good shape, RLD paid all debts, the club is sound. The ticketsales are stable, the fanbase attached to its team. However the new owner will need a lot of new blood and strong nerves to get the club in a European top 10 team. Gillett, I know him thanks to what he's doing with the Montreal hockey team. He's rock solid and all business. if you want to create value he's the man however he might not reach out the fan.

who is this man (Gillett)?
Why would he want to buy a club like marseille when about every club in england is to sale?
You maybe right.
If this man is used to american frenzy, he'll go for a upgra

who is this man (Gillett)?

You may be right.
If this man is used to american football frenzy where quality of the stadium is a sine qua none option, he'll go for a upgrade of the facility.

Gillett is an american sportbiz mogul. he got rich almost lost everything made a huge comeback bought the Canadiens de Montreal. He's as business as can be but he won't just come for the team, he'll want the stadium and will get anything he can out of it just like he's doing it in Montreal. If he gets his way it would be a huge push for Marseille entertainment scene.

I've heard that the city of Marseille wants to remains the owner of the stadium.
That means that this man, if he becomes the boss of OM, won't be allowed to do eveything he wants to the structure although I think the municipality won't say no if he tells them that he'll pay for a 80.000 expansion and a roof...

RLD won't sell OM for lress than € 100 millions... for the team as all real estates (including the stadium) are city properties

Just for the record chaps, I kinda prefered SV prior to the 98 world cup
if it were me Id match the "main" stand to match the opposite side and place a clear perspex roof around each stand similar to the "students" design, this will allow optimum use of the SOF Sunshine to provide a great pitch and no hideous shadows on the pitch.

dont like the model that OM are gonna use to "Alianz" for me
I never thought that big stadiums ( roofed ) suit small oval or square openings, just creates HORRIBLE shadows, ok it can beef up the atmosphere
but you try tellin me the stad de france or the old Wembley suffered from lack of atmos!!!!!!!!!

:)

I won't disagree with Wembley having atmosphere. I won't disagree with like the stadium better before the renovation. I won't say I want this stadium to reah 80000 seats

so I won't say anything and shut up till this plan becomes reality.

I like Marseille's stadium. It's one of those famous recognisable stadia because of the shape and colour. I hope they keep this.
Would they fill 80k though?

RIght on Tuesday!!!!

Exactly

Why is it that the common concencous is to improve a stadium you have to roof it and basically rebuild it

what happened to history??????

To expand it to 80.000 is not a vital goal.
What is vital is to improve comfort with a roof and to make the stadium a place we call in France "Lieu de vie" which translate by "a place of numerous activities".

To add shops, an hostel and a business center you MUST expand the structure and build next to the stands so why not jump on the opportunity to add 20.000 seats atop those new constructions?

With all the turmoil surrounding the club now, I don't see it happening just after the World cup is over as everybody is talking about everything else but the stadium expansion... really sad...

The new project looks fantastic, but I quite like the current Velodrome too, can't judge things like atmosphere though since I've never been there.

@Vilak: What do you mean with "turmoil surrounding the club"?

The new project looks fantastic, but I quite like the current Velodrome too, can't judge things like atmosphere though since I've never been there.

@Vilak: What do you mean with "turmoil surrounding the club"?

1/the current velodrome is beautiful but the atmosphere is very bad:
Being a pretty open to the air stadium, the wind is very present on the pitch and on the stands. Also the voice of the fans is lost in the sky, almost uneffective on the club performance. For what we think are the most expressive fans in France, they deserve a better environment.

2/some trade of players from 97/99 seems not to have been made by the rules (from the money movment standpoint) and the club's owner dreyffuq and then-club manager courbis are facing lawsuits, the last almost being sure to end up in jail.

Yes, the project is fantastic.

One last think :
EVERYBODY who loves the club says it is imperative to upgrade the stadium.
In order of importance, the thing they want to see :
-the covering of the stands
-the upgrade of comfort (which also depands of the covering)
-the capacity expansion.

Never forget to be productive you need good tools.
For a football team, the stadium is the main tool!

No French club needs an 80,000 capacity

The current Velodrome looks magnificent. I love the shape of the stands. I understand there is no roof however, which is a definitive no-no in football stadia design. And yes there is a dire need for modernisation

Marseilles are a massive club, the biggest in France by far, but I can't see you filling 80k week in week out. Could prove to be a costly mistake.

No French club needs an 80,000 capacity
Olympic Marseille is the exception that confirm the rule.

If Marseille can sell out an 80k for every home game I'll pay for the upgrade myself.

Hard to think any french team will fill a stadium that big.

Come on!
There's no need to sell out the stadium at every match, and it is impossible!

With a very uncomfortable stadium and mixed performance from the team, Marseille averaged 49.000 spectators.

How would the average be with a very comfortable 80k stadium and better results?

Possibly against PSG, Lyon and a few glamour European ties. The French mistakenly believe that by lighting a few flares it makes them a passionate football nation. Only England & Germany can you have two relegation fodder teams playing out in front of 30-40,000.

I love this stadium..

http://rafcart.free.fr/images/taxi4g.jpg

Only a few does...
It looked great on paper but very very uncomfortable on windy nights.

Don't want to kill the dream but the truth is forget about this one for now. There's nothing going on for this stadium. The city can't pay for it. The club is having legal issues really I don't see how they can pull that one. The sale to the canadian millionaire turned to a complete fiasco. Nope this one is going nowhere IMO.

Thats sad :(

So, small news..
According to the mayor of Marseille, the Velodrome, will be upgraded and covered very soon... still, there is no date... but there is the elections... so maybe a wrong information... If it is upgraded and covered, the corners might be closed so like 8K more seats

THIS IS A CUT AND PASTE FROM ANOTHER THREAD.

Although I'm still dreaming, I hope it's the big project that Gaudin is talking about.
Too bad candidates use to promess anything, especially on sensible subjects, to be elected.
Hopefully, the situation with the Velodrome is a VERY sensible subject in Marseille and I doubt people would easily forgive it if the expansion doesn't happen.

Every 2 week they are next 60000 at the Velodrome and there is 15 years that Marseille doesnt win anything
I think they can be 80 000 without problems
Bernard Tapie said 15 years ago ( for the WC) that 50 000 was ok,they will never have more than 45000 in the stadium,he doesnt want a 60000 stadium ... what a mistake,he can see it now !!!

exactly, everybody agrees about that.
The only but big problem is money!

I would hate to see the corners filled, because its shape makes the stadium so beautiful and unique. But there are not many options to increase the capacity otherwise I fear.

Btw: Was the stadium really in T4xi?

I would hate to see the corners filled, because its shape makes the stadium so beautiful and unique. But there are not many options to increase the capacity otherwise I fear.

Btw: Was the stadium really in T4xi?

Your second stadium design looks like River Plate's ground.

Every 2 week they are next 60000 at the Velodrome and there is 15 years that Marseille doesnt win anything
I think they can be 80 000 without problems
Bernard Tapie said 15 years ago ( for the WC) that 50 000 was ok,they will never have more than 45000 in the stadium,he doesnt want a 60000 stadium ... what a mistake,he can see it now !!!

No there isn't 60k every week. The French attendance record of 57k for
Marseille v Lyon was broken this weekend with the Lille v Lyon match at Stade de France. Marseille averaged 51,604 last season which makes them the 10th best supported club in Europe (a respectable figure)

For a 60.000 capacity VERY uncomfortable stadium with an average 50.000 attendance, an 10/20.000 seats expansion is not something you can't think about isn't it?

I don't think those promises will be kept, but who knows?
Does France have really a big chance to host Euro 2016 or is it a bid that will have serious competition? If the answer is yes, it's almost a done deal this stadium will grow in size.

The record of frequentation is now Lille-lyon of march 1st 2008!

77850!

Only marseille can beat it now. I'm sure they will expand it but perhaps in 10 years :lol:

Seriously only marseille can do it now. good luck for next elections because if gaudin continues like this you'll never see expansions.

I don't think those promises will be kept, but who knows?
Does France have really a big chance to host Euro 2016 or is it a bid that will have serious competition? If the answer is yes, it's almost a done deal this stadium will grow in size.

Some said that we indeed have a serious chance to get Euro 2016 :
England and Spain will probably bid for the world cup 2018 so our most dangerous competitors won't be there.
Portugal had euro in 2004 so they are too out of race.
Germany won't bid because they had WC recently (Although I'm not sure about that).

If Italy and russia don't bid, it's almost sure we'll have it.

So if we host Euro 2016, it's sure a lot of stadium will be upgraded and the Velodrome will be one of them.

Some said that we indeed have a serious chance to get Euro 2016 :
England and Spain will probably bid for the world cup 2018 so our most dangerous competitors won't be there.
Portugal had euro in 2004 so they are too out of race.
Germany won't bid because they had WC recently (Although I'm not sure about that).

If Italy and russia don't bid, it's almost sure we'll have it.

So if we host Euro 2016, it's sure a lot of stadium will be upgraded and the Velodrome will be one of them.

On government money just like it should be, right! Am I the only to think that this is pathetic! We are in 08 and they are talking about 2016! Eight frickin years just to play catch up?! This is ridiculous!

that's the way it is.....

Whats the general attendance record in France football?

sercan--> megalol :lol:

It's obvious!! it's Lille!!!!
Since last saturday-> 77850 at stade de France!!

So league and general (cup, national team, old days terraces etc)
its 77.850?

No for a ligue1 match it was 77850 :
http://www.dailymotion.com/axelferis/video/x4knm3_ambiance-du-stade-de-france_sport

Ant this weekend the overall attendance was beaten.

I don't have the general numbers but the average attendance for a year in french stadiums per match is around 21000-23000 ! It's cool no?
But germany,england are stronger fans we know :D . That's why new stadiums are arriving.

i would say its 80,000 at Stade de France (cup? national team?)
i think in germany its 110,000 at Leipzig

the record whatever competition? I think it's for a final of cup between paris and marseille..but i'm not sure.

Yes. Just the record attendance for a football match played in France in the last 120 years :D

Yes. Just the record attendance for a football match played in France in the last 120 years :D

You just have to narrow your research to Stade de France biggest games! makes it very easy doesn't it!

According to wiki its: 79,741 (27.01.2007)
In Turkey its 79,414 (31.07.2002, Galatasaray-Olympiacos)
Shame that France never had a big one in the past.
A stade de france in the 1920s-1980s would have a attendance of maybe 100,000 (terraces etc)

According to wiki its: 79,741 (27.01.2007)
In Turkey its 79,414 (31.07.2002, Galatasaray-Olympiacos)
Shame that France never had a big one in the past.
A stade de france in the 1920s-1980s would have a attendance of maybe 100,000 (terraces etc)

In the past there was Stade Yves du Manoir in Colombes (near Paris) but it was only a 60,000 seater even if occasionally more than 80,000 people got in!

So record must be +80,000?

i think one day 80000 has been reached but i think it was for the rugby 2007 final world cup England-South africa

sercan--> megalol :lol:

It's obvious!! it's Lille!!!!
Since last saturday-> 77850 at stade de France!!


It's St-Denis that will remain as the holder of the biggest attendance, not Lille!

I would add that Lille can't be fully credited just because they are the home team. after all, they are not the permanent tennant of the building.

This number was reached for multiple reasons :
-a big game
-the birthday of this jewel stadium
-big production and marketing values from canal+
-entertainment shows

giving all the honours to Lille would be very biased but it's obvious they deserve their fair share of credit.

But human being human, let's be sure a OM/PSG or OM/OL break this record in a 80.000 seats velodrome, people from marseille will also want all credit for their team.

It's St-Denis that will remain as the holder of the biggest attendance, not Lille!

I would add that Lille can't be fully credited just because they are the home team. after all, they are not the permanent tennant of the building.

This number was reached for multiple reasons :
-a big game
-the birthday of this jewel stadium
-big production and marketing values from canal+
-entertainment shows

giving all the honours to Lille would be very biased but it's obvious they deserve their fair share of credit.

But human being human, let's be sure a OM/PSG or OM/OL break this record in a 80.000 seats velodrome, people from marseille will also want all credit for their team.


:lol: Lille was theorganisator of this event man!! It's not canal+!!
This game against lyon could have been normally in Villeneuve d'asq!!
Lille had the choice to select the team which they wanted to play and they 'had chosen lyon!!!

It's not so easy to say people in Lille: "come to stade de france because we play against Lyon" !!

Lille deserves respect like said frdereric Thiriez president of French league.

The home team was lille!! Not lyon or canal+

But i want to congratulate lyon because they were a lot at stadiums!!
Lille very well organized this event! Entrance of players was beautiful.
I can' understand such a jalousy in your words!! :ohno:

If Lyon or Marseille did the same i would congratulate them!!! Why to creat conflicts like this :(

And all entertainements you mention is the organisation and idea of Lille and no Canal+!!!! Pease search information before say things like that!!!

Lille paid all those entertainements ok? not Lyon,not Canal+ and not you!

Marseille for sure will breal one day this number . When their stadium will be there!

But a last thing. If stade de france was at lille, be sure that 80000 would have been broken!! Last saturday a lot of lille fans didn't want to go at stade de france!! Just because didn't agree with the location!

80000 can be broken anywhere in france you know!! Lille unhabitants can go at such events when it is in their own town like lyon, nantes, Bordeaux!! marseile is not the only one you know.

Braderie de lille attracts 2 million people! what is 80000??! :rant:

You seem to be very paranoïd Axelferis!!! :nuts:

There's no lobby against Lille or its future stadium, be it here or elsewere. I'm not a fan of LOSC but have nothing against them, I just talk about things as I see or feel them.
You talk about Jealousy but what could make me jealous?
If Lille is able to play in front of 80.000 fans, great for them!
I'm from a little town with a little team and a little stadium. I have sense of reality, I'm not an ultra from any team.


LOSC organised this fiesta all by themselves? Great if it's true but they had to find partners and what more symbiotic partnership for this game than Canal+?
They deserve their share of thanks for this success but you can't be honest if you credit them only.

But be sure it's the stadium and the game that hold the record of attendance, not the home team.
What will be said in the future?
"SDF holds the attendance record" or "LOSC/OL holds the attendance record".

It will never be said by other that biased supporters (which is a a behaviour I consider a human one, whatever poison you can imagine in my word ) that "LOSC holds the attendance record".

until marseille breaks this record, Lille is the club which organized this event point. Then it is lille thanks to the capacity of stade de france!!

i do'nt care myself about losc and lille!! I love stadiums!And the lille one is among the three best in france!! just wait to see it and everybody will agree!

And canal+ has nothing to do with this event. It just a normal match with the particularity to has been palyed in this spectacular stadium. where is the problem? :bash:

Personnaly i don't cre about records in stadiums but i care about the quality, comfort and beauty of design!!

I prefer a 51000 retractable with all the comfort needed for 21st century than a lot of stadiums where the wind,rain,snow are invited!!

Ltu Arena Dusseldorf:

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/3908/ltuarena7sr7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/4513/ltuarena4lv6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

i prefer already this one! :cheers:

I love LTU Arena. Too sad the Fortuna is in german league 2 and only hold a handful of games each year in this magnificent arena.
To talk back about Velodrome, I think there's no need to go as far as LTU.
You all know I hate the velodrome and hopefully, to make this stadium more comfortable as I think it deserve to be, things will not be as expensive.
opposite to fortuna, OM can fill a stadium that big and bigger.
If you could mix the capacity of the Velodrome and the level of comfort the LTU offers, I would love it, definitly.

Cardiff millenium :)

Actually Fortuna Düsseldorf plays in the 3rd league

Cardiff millenium :)

Sorry to be totally out of subject but I really would like to know why millenium upper tier in imcomplete behind one goal. Can anyone answer me?

Actually Fortuna Düsseldorf plays in the 3rd league


thanks to correct me.
Wathever, I don't think domes are example to follow concerning the Velodrome, our winters are not so cold in the south of France.

Sorry to be totally out of subject but I really would like to know why millenium upper tier in imcomplete behind one goal. Can anyone answer me?

its the old stand of the old stadium

i never said velodrome need a roof retractable. just said arean mode is for me the better representative of modernity and future. like in USa where a lot os big stadiums have retractable :)

Sorry to be totally out of subject but I really would like to know why millenium upper tier in imcomplete behind one goal. Can anyone answer me?



have you a pic because i don' t understand?

Sorry to be totally out of subject but I really would like to know why millenium upper tier in imcomplete behind one goal. Can anyone answer me?

its because that part of the stadium is actually built onto the back of another stadium and uses part of the existing structure, incorporated into the design of the millennium stadium. That stadium however has been said to be demolished (in proposal) and then the tier can be completed, wether this comes true or not is another matter

http://www.cardiffrfc.co.uk/Uploads/ACF516.jpg

Thanks for the Answer!

Axelferis : Of course you never said Marseille needed a retractable roof. I was just pointing that the level of comfort of LTU was the main goal to reach.

A satellite image of the velodrome:
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/872/marseillestadevlodromeiwm4.jpg[/


As you see, there's not a lot of place left behind each goal.
The project that open this thread does the best with that.

1998 was joke for french stadiums :lol:

but somewhere it's good tha those stadiums were bad made just because today new standards of creation have appeared. France will make then beautiful things this time. Not like Italy which had in 1990 the best stadiums in europe. Result :today they are totally catastrophic

The stands doesn't look steep
Actually a completely new stadium (80,000) would cover less ground :D

Anyone has a pic of the stadium before the reconstruction for the 1998 WC?

Page 1 :)

until marseille breaks this record, Lille is the club which organized this event point. Then it is lille thanks to the capacity of stade de france!!

Were not even arguing about the same thing… I only said you were wrong when you said “Lille hold the record”, something that is unaccurate. I never complained when you said it was LOSC brainchild to have this game at the Stade de France.
it’s saint-Denis, SDF or the Losc/Lyon game that hold the game, period!


And canal+ has nothing to do with this event. It just a normal match with the particularity to has been palyed in this spectacular stadium. where is the problem?

The problem seems to be you cos’ when you see someone express a different opinion than yours you always see poison or biased views and answer that this one is jealous or have a honesty problem.
And you could at least admit the fact Canal+ broadcasting the game put some asses in the seats.

Titou--> are you serious when you say canal+ is for something in this record?? :/

The tickets were sold out! Canal+ if they hadn't broadcast the event would have been the same!! A broadcast has nothing to do with the ticket sold!!!!

I bought ticket in january and canal+ didn't ay they will broadcast the match at this moment.

End of january 60000 seats were already sold!! canal+ has nothing to do with the number!!!

Axelferis :
Yes I'm serious. I may be wrong, that's something I admit but I believe it helped make this special game a more special one.

I'm sure Lille did a very good job promoting the game and that the numbers you talk (60000 ticket at the end of janury) are accurate.

I'm absolulty OK to say that the fact C+ broadcasted it didn't decide thousand and thousand people to go to the stadium but I deeply believe it gave a reason for a few people to go (then pumping the number a little bit more).

That's how we could say the ice on the cake.

One last thing : thank you for your non-agressive way of answering this time. It pleased me a lot and, as you see, my answer is very gentle too.
Isn't it better to discuss like that? nobody feel the need to go further and all is better.:)

i never agressed you.

i never agressed you.

Admit sometimes your tune was agressive, so then was mine.
I don't hold you for anything, as I should have ignored the "you're jealous" comments that were very childish but I get childish too by answering on the same way.
I hope you understand I'm not trying to teach you anything as about everybody act the same way here.
What I really want to point is that a talk is more productive when people stay quiet and softly counter the point of view of others.
As I already said, I maybe wrong but I truly believe what I'm saying now.

The stands doesn't look steep
Actually a completely new stadium (80,000) would cover less ground :D


Can you be more precise please? I don't fully understand what you mean.

Are you talking about truning the field 45° like they did in Hamburg with the Volksparkstadion?

Turning the field 45° would mean entierely destroying the actual stadium and building a new stadium. Marseille can't afford the cost.

Anyway, this option is absolutly out of question as the need is to cover the stand and possibly expand the capacity OF THE ACTUAL STADIUM.
Two things that, as the many pix I posted here showed it, are possible.

Where are the 20k additional seats in this project?
http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/2429/futur1kq3.jpg

It looks like the stands still have the oval shape.

This project will not be made , don't worry lpioe

This project will not be made , don't worry lpioe

who knows? If we get euro 2016 and Gaudin has still not covered the Velodrome in two years, this project may resurface as well as another can arise...

I like this project, I find it very beautiful and not so costly for what he brings.


Ipioe :
The 20.000 seats are built above the existing stadium. Look at the 5th pix (the lower on the left) you'll see them.
It's not evident it's seats, too I though at first it was just a white egg-shaped line but it's your new seats.

Well that's another what 5 years to wait to see if anything gets to be made!

Well that's another what 5 years to wait to see if anything gets to be made!


as far as I know, the covering of the Velodrome has been relativly important in Gaudin message to the electing people. If he win the scrutin and doesn't do what is expected, I think it could be the "lie that kills" for him.
I'm confident something will be done in the next hand of years.

Can anyone tell me when the Euro 2016 host will be choosen?

ironman--> you are so pessimistic! I think velodrome project will rise one day!

The only thing that disturbs me abou this project is new seats belt which is very far from the pitch!!! :ohno:

Are architects think about supporters?? who want to be so far from players?

Moreover, I don't see any roof on this stadium :ohno: , still , the project is gorgeous

theres's a roof!!!!! take a closer look.

which covers almost nothing... look at bottom left

^^ from page 1
project (some pix without the roof for inside view):

i was talikng about the distance with the pitch! would you like to see a match in this far seats belt?
It is like to have an athletic tarck in the air :lol:

But acoustic will be very very good with this roof. Velodrome will bea hell for teams!

new belt of seats in blue :

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/5518/newvi3.png (http://imageshack.us)

Being such independant from the other parts of the stadium, this belt could be open or closed depending on the expected attendance.

Ridiculous project

why it's ridiculous??

I think architects could have been better . But it's a nice project!

Ridiculous project

Why? Too expensive? Too arty? Too ugly? useless for that team?
Please go further.

i think he likes to be provocative...

I don't like the 2nd tier in the project. The proportions just don't seem right. I don't ilke stadiums where the 2nd tier is much smaller than the 1st.

Facade and 'environment' of the stadium look really nice though.

Two different modelizations of what it could be from inside :

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/3631/futurvelodromewn8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/6383/futurvel2yh1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The second seems more accurate don't you think?

from isnside massive feeling like in San siro!

from isnside massive feeling like in San siro!

Absolutly, the building of the new ring of seats is replicated from San siro 1990's expansion:
Four towers constructed on the four corners to support the new belt of seats.

Except this looks like a dogs dinner of a concept. It's 2 seperate stadiums cobbled together

Except this looks like a dogs dinner of a concept. It's 2 seperate stadiums cobbled together

I find myself it looks great but it's sure it's a matter of taste.
Look at the satellite image and you'll see they've done the best with the lack of space behind the goals.
This project, if the money is found, is perfect and covers about every present and future need of Marseille.

I'm not sold but why not! It really does look like two stadium on one another! I never considered San Siro to be a masterpiece even when it was a brand new stadium! Maybe it will grow on me!

merciiiiiiiiii

It seems acceptable to me.
After looking from every picture, it's a very nice stadium from the outside and from the inside, it doesn't seems even the man on the highest seat would be that far from action.
It's not like a seat belt was built around the existing stands, it seems, from what I see in the pictures, that the new belt will be built ABOVE the existing stands, not behind.

Acceptable????
How much club bosses would die to have this inside the walls of their stadium?
Hey, it's 80.000 seats and as you pointed it, the view seems very good from the upper seats...

Gaudin has been re-elected. Will he keeps his promess to upgrade the stadium?
I think it will be know soon, don't you?

Acceptable????
How much club bosses would die to have this inside the walls of their stadium?
Hey, it's 80.000 seats and as you pointed it, the view seems very good from the upper seats...

Gaudin has been re-elected. Will he keeps his promise to upgrade the stadium?
I think it will be know soon, don't you?

Don't forget that the club is up for sale again! Yes again!

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/6383/futurvel2yh1.jpg

Looks a bit strange with this isolated upper tier

Looks a bit strange with this isolated upper tier

Yes, a little bit but they can't do what they want with the existing structure.
As you see in the satelitte pictures, there's not tons of available land to expand in superficy so it's probably the best way they can.

I don't like the 2nd tier in the project. The proportions just don't seem right. I don't ilke stadiums where the 2nd tier is much smaller than the 1st.

Facade and 'environment' of the stadium look really nice though.

Same answer as above... they have to do the best without too much touching the existing structure.
Ok, to have a 1st tier at 60.000 and a second at 20.000 seems very disproportionnal but again, they do what they can with what they have.

^^ I just checked Google Earth and you are right. There is virtually no room at all for expansion in the north-eastern corner. So this is pretty much the only way to expand.
I hope to see better renders soon.

mmm... i prefer the stadium as it is now.... maybe a roof would be nice , but the upper tier.......

I still think it will be very efficient as people won't be that far from the pitch.
Of course, from an aesthetical point, the inside of the stadium won't look compact but has its caché.

I think we'll soon hear about the expansion, be it this very project or another.
But I'm still supporting this one. Its not very expensive for what it brings.

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/6383/futurvel2yh1.jpg

I wonder how they can support the added upper tiers... I can't see any columns to support the tiers but they can support themselves plus as many as 20,469(=80,500-60,031) people!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is it possible in architecture? Anyone who has the knowledge, please reply...

^^ I would imagine in the corner behind the stands, maybe a bit like what is shown in that concept render, although it looks like he has put executive boxes there instead. The top tier (supported by collums in corners), as i would imagine, would have to be as close (in terms of height) as it can possibly be to the one below it.

Surely these renders are nothing more than purely conceptual, and just done by a fan. I would love to see something like this, mainly due to its unique characteristics, but sadly i do not see this happening. If you think about the viewing angles i think these wouldn't work, as you wouldn't be able to see the nearest touchline to you in certain areas, ie. the corner of the second tier.

They could maybe take away small sections off the backs of the curving stands to make them more suitable for expansion with a new tier (which i am guessing is the only way of increasing capacity.

As you say space is really tight on site, so there would have to be some kind of serious overhang (a tier hanging directly over the one underneath it) in order to achieve the 20,000 increase being talked about, i don't think the design on this page addresses this enough for me and hasn't been thoroughly thought out enough if were to be official.

I can explain more in detail if need be, but i think if u moved the whole of the top tier down quite a fair bit, so as the very last row of seats, at the very back of each stand can just about see the touchline on the farside.

^^ I would imagine in the corner behind the stands, maybe a bit like what is shown in that concept render, although it looks like he has put executive boxes there instead. The top tier (supported by collums in corners), as i would imagine, would have to be as close (in terms of height) as it can possibly be to the one below it.

Surely these renders are nothing more than purely conceptual, and just done by a fan. I would love to see something like this, mainly due to its unique characteristics, but sadly i do not see this happening. If you think about the viewing angles i think these wouldn't work, as you wouldn't be able to see the nearest touchline to you in certain areas, ie. the corner of the second tier.

They could maybe take away small sections off the backs of the curving stands to make them more suitable for expansion with a new tier (which i am guessing is the only way of increasing capacity.

As you say space is really tight on site, so there would have to be some kind of serious overhang (a tier hanging directly over the one underneath it) in order to achieve the 20,000 increase being talked about, i don't think the design on this page addresses this enough for me and hasn't been thoroughly thought out enough if were to be official.

I can explain more in detail if need be, but i think if u moved the whole of the top tier down quite a fair bit, so as the very last row of seats, at the very back of each stand can just about see the touchline on the farside.

Great explanations! wearethefuture, are you an architect or did you major in architecture at college?

Lol I'm not an architect or studying it (although i was planning on it at one point), i study photography infact. I am just a massive fan of architecture and stadiums in general and have always try to think about the logistics of the designs produced. When i was younger i would always design stadiums (just for fun ;)) and the main factor that needed to be taken into consideration is the viewing angle. For example; if you have a three tiered stand 99% of the time the third tier will be a lot steeper than the bottom one, this is so that the people in the top tier can see the nearest touchline or lane of running track etc.

Another thing that needs to be taken into consideration, and is very apparent in this case with the Velodrome, are where the fans enter the stand, how they get to the tier, and where they would then exit/enter the stand from and to the concourse, to the steps and then on to their seat. In this case i believe the stair wells would have to be in the corners (as space is tight behind the stands and are not likely to go through the tier below), and the exit/entrances to seats would most likely be low in the tier due to space and support. If this expansion does happen it will be the most interesting stadium expansion i think i have seen (although there are some incredible engineering examples by some of these expanded NFL stadiums), this may have to be some cutting edge architecture and technology to see this expansion become reality.

Lol I'm not an architect or studying it (although i was planning on it at one point), i study photography infact. I am just a massive fan of architecture and stadiums in general and have always try to think about the logistics of the designs produced. When i was younger i would always design stadiums (just for fun ;)) and the main factor that needed to be taken into consideration is the viewing angle. For example; if you have a three tiered stand 99% of the time the third tier will be a lot steeper than the bottom one, this is so that the people in the top tier can see the nearest touchline or lane of running track etc.

Another thing that needs to be taken into consideration, and is very apparent in this case with the Velodrome, are where the fans enter the stand, how they get to the tier, and where they would then exit/enter the stand from and to the concourse, to the steps and then on to their seat. In this case i believe the stair wells would have to be in the corners (as space is tight behind the stands and are not likely to go through the tier below), and the exit/entrances to seats would most likely be low in the tier due to space and support. If this expansion does happen it will be the most interesting stadium expansion i think i have seen (although there are some incredible engineering examples by some of these expanded NFL stadiums), this may have to be some cutting edge architecture and technology to see this expansion become reality.

You deserve to be an amateur architect :cheers:

Thank you wearethefuture for your explaination.
Hope to hear more of you in the french stadium threads.

You talk about technological records made for some NFL stadiums.
I don't think that for 140 millions Euros, we'll see surhuman technologies appointed to the Velodrome expansion.

What woulld you do, you wearethefuture, if you were asked to design a project to expand this stadium to 80.000?

Well it's definitely a tough one. From what i have seen of the official looking models of a top tier that sweeps above the ones below would be the most efficient way of adding extra capacity. Whether or not is possible i am not sure, effectively they are putting a 20,000 stadium on top of another one, which is most likely to be held up and supported in the corners (although as i have said before, it could be possible to take away some of the seats at the back of the stands that are allready there to provide extra support for the top tier). I don't think i have ever seen such a construction of a floating stadium before, although the way the Santiago Bernabau has been extended over the years has been very ingenious.

http://www.cedric.venigo.fr/wordpress_podrugby/wp-content/themes/default/images/stade-velodrome.jpg

The first way i would go about adding extra capacity to the stadium would be to address the covered (main) stand. I would remove the roof and top tier for a start. I'd then extend it either side so that the executive boxes reach all the ways to the corners (as can be seen in the image above they stop at each goal line). I would then add the largest tier that would possibly fit (thus reducing the amount of capacity that would be needed to be added at other parts of the stadium) above the executive boxes (to replace the small one taken away) and extend that all the way to left and to the right as far as it would go, it could even have a slight curve at the back of the tier to complete the overall look of the Velodrome. I think this could add around about 10,000 if done correctly.

Then to gain the other 10,000 would be much more difficult and complex. There are, as far as i can see two ways of going about this. Either take away the less permanent curving extensions that are currently there, and replace them with a new large tier that sweeps around 3/4 of the stadium. Or add a new smaller tier that has be seen in the models and discussed before.

Either way i think extending the main (covered) stand, up to the corners and adding a new tier would be the first phase of the expansion that you would imagine to take place. How would you go about it?

Well it's definitely a tough one. From what i have seen of the official looking models of a top tier that sweeps above the ones below would be the most efficient way of adding extra capacity. Whether or not is possible i am not sure, effectively they are putting a 20,000 stadium on top of another one, which is most likely to be held up and supported in the corners (although as i have said before, it could be possible to take away some of the seats at the back of the stands that are allready there to provide extra support for the top tier). I don't think i have ever seen such a construction of a floating stadium before, although the way the Santiago Bernabau has been extended over the years has been very ingenious.

http://www.cedric.venigo.fr/wordpress_podrugby/wp-content/themes/default/images/stade-velodrome.jpg

The first way i would go about adding extra capacity to the stadium would be to address the covered (main) stand. I would remove the roof and top tier for a start. I'd then extend it either side so that the executive boxes reach all the ways to the corners (as can be seen in the image above they stop at each goal line). I would then add the largest tier that would possibly fit (thus reducing the amount of capacity that would be needed to be added at other parts of the stadium) above the executive boxes (to replace the small one taken away) and extend that all the way to left and to the right as far as it would go, it could even have a slight curve at the back of the tier to complete the overall look of the Velodrome. I think this could add around about 10,000 if done correctly.

Then to gain the other 10,000 would be much more difficult and complex. There are, as far as i can see two ways of going about this. Either take away the less permanent curving extensions that are currently there, and replace them with a new large tier that sweeps around 3/4 of the stadium. Or add a new smaller tier that has be seen in the models and discussed before.

Either way i think extending the main (covered) stand, up to the corners and adding a new tier would be the first phase of the expansion that you would imagine to take place. How would you go about it?

Your words make a lot of sense, the covered stand is currently the smallest. I personally consider that 10000 more seats would put this stadium up there with the best of them if the roof and amenities do follow. Would you make it ball like with an inclined roof! I think it would look sleek.

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1248/stadevelodromeej7.jpg

So, I can't Explain or describe.. because it can be silly or unpossible to do it but the main part are the two roofs behind the goals. The stands are very Leaned, so the roof will be like an Arch.. but not completely.. the two other roofs will start from the previous ones and will rest on the top of the stands and on the corners.. so the big Lightnings might be removed... it's not just a roof.. an expansion on the building under the roofs are here but impossible to put on the picture. the stand which already has a roof will be totally rebuilt and bigger. for the others I don't know if it is possible.. but by destroying the corners and made them "face" the field will add comfort to spectators and may 5000 seats


Sorry for the english, sorry for the picture and explanation if it's silly

wearethefuture :
I find you idea very good. Is it possible for you to create a very simple picture based on the satellite image?

Ironman89:
http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/4219/stadevelodromeej7ik3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Your idea is good too. I suppose it counts the covered stand to be made after the big one, then expanding from 12.000 to 20.000 isn't it? a Great 68.000 velodrome!!!! thanks for your work!


For info, here are the approx numbers I have for each stand :
the big stand holds 20.000 seats
the "behind the goal" stands hold 14.000 seats each
The covered stand holds 12.000 seats. I don't know how much box there is.

I still would like to see a new stadium
The stands do not look steep. So a 3rd tier stadium could be possible

Vilak here is a very rough example of what i mean about extending the covered stand. As has been said here, it may be an idea to completely demolish this stand and start from a fresh, however i don't find this viable and there isn't really much to be gained from doing this, as it allready has two rows of executive boxes and .if. it is capable of supporting the weight of a new tier to replace the small one allready there, then this should be the most acceptable and also cheapest way of expanding the stadium.

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/4808/mars1ji0.gif

The black area are the executive boxes, just to give you an idea. And here is another very rough, not-to-scale cross section taken from the middle of the stand, the green part being the extension, the red part being the initial tier.

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/1/mars2fl0.gif

That makes a 68.000 seats stadium.
Very good Wearethefuture , very very good.

I dont see the problem here 3 of the sides of the stadium have room to expand? Also the renders on the previous page, the new seating is just cantilevered is it not

I dont see the problem here 3 of the sides of the stadium have room to expand? Also the renders on the previous page, the new seating is just cantilevered is it not

I can see maybe 2 sides where they can expand (the covered and large one), however the site looks incredibly tight for expansion to me behind either goal, one with the rail tracks the other with the road.

The seating does indeed look cantilevered but where will the support for it come from? It can't be suspended in thin air, I think that's the debate that's taking place here. I think the models that can be seen a couple of pages back are a lot more realistic and possible than the renders which are purely conceptual and wouldn't work, if not only for the viewing angels.

Wearethefuture :
If we follow you, we then have a 68.000 stadium.
So to reach the magic number of 80K, there's only 12.000 seats left to place.
Were would you place them?

How much money marseille city can hope from the governement to expand its stadium in case we have Euro 2016?

How much money marseille city can hope from the governement to expand its stadium in case we have Euro 2016?

I'd rather have them not ask! I 'd rather have them looking around for investors willing to buy the club and bring it back to greatness and motivated enough to foot the bill for the expansion!

There's already motivation and the team is great although not very regular.

There's already motivation and the team is great although not very regular.

Sorry, titou! I meant the team owner needed to be motivated and willing to foot the bill, not the players!

ok, the team owner, at least the actual, isn't willing to pay as the stadium is the city property.
Never expect the stadium to be privatly owned someday as the mayor wants it to remain public.

ok, the team owner, at least the actual, isn't willing to pay as the stadium is the city property.
Never expect the stadium to be privatly owned someday as the mayor wants it to remain public.

Is Marseille Velodrom owned by the city, not by the club? Is the privatization of stadiums prohibited in France as in Italy?

Is Marseille Velodrom owned by the city, not by the club? Is the privatization of stadiums prohibited in France as in Italy?


No, it is legal to have its own stadium in France.
The problem is that no club was ever rich enough to build a private stadium and always used the city's one. invest the money on stadium is a very recent idea for club in France.
The only ligue1 club to own a stadium is A.J.Auxerre.
A long time ago, the AJA was a sport association founded by a Priest (the famous abbé Deschamps) and built a very little stadium with just one stand (like 500 seats) for its football section.
But years after years the club climbed the divisions and ended up in ligue1 at the end of the 70's. With money coming they slowly upgraded their stadium year after year while staying the owner.

No, it is legal to have its own stadium in France.
The problem is that no club was ever rich enough to build a private stadium and always used the city's one. invest the money on stadium is a very recent idea for club in France.
The only ligue1 club to own a stadium is A.J.Auxerre.
A long time ago, the AJA was a sport association founded by a Priest (the famous abbé Deschamps) and built a very little stadium with just one stand (like 500 seats) for its football section.
But years after years the club climbed the divisions and ended up in ligue1 at the end of the 70's. With money coming they slowly upgraded their stadium year after year while staying the owner.

If Lyon build the planned 60K stadium it will be the 2nd club to have its won stadium in France, right?

I don't know for other leagues but as far as only ligue1 is concerned, you're right.

Anyway I wish at least New OL Land Project could get started and finished on schedule. It's really fantastic stadium.

ok!
Let's back to Marseille topic.

How much time do you think it would take to achieve the transformation that opened this thread?

Do you mean the original upgrade, from day one to delivery 21 months tops! Taking it slow I think. Keeping the stadium open, at least the lower part of the stand, during the season! But as long as there is no firm project selected it's useless to shout the comet!
Still the original project is hight tech! The last idea proposed here is "low" tech! Probably a two phase gig only 13 months: 1 destroy and rebuild the mainstand with a phase, 2 put the roof on!

But really it's more like a wild "educated" guess!

Yes that's what I meant. From day one to delivery.
Thank you

Possibly against PSG, Lyon and a few glamour European ties. The French mistakenly believe that by lighting a few flares it makes them a passionate football nation. Only England & Germany can you have two relegation fodder teams playing out in front of 30-40,000.

We have PSG now!:lol:

It would be sad if PSG end up in Ligue2 in few weeks.
Even if some of its fans are a bunch of suckers, this club is loved by a lot of people and its fanbase counts a lot in French football landscape.
frankly, something would be missing.
Remember when Marseille was in ligue2 in 1995? Something was missing, period.
Then, if it happens, I'll have no mercy for this disastrous way to run a club.

It would be sad if PSG end up in Ligue2 in few weeks.
Even if some of its fans are a bunch of suckers, this club is loved by a lot of people and its fanbase counts a lot in French football landscape.
frankly, something would be missing.
Remember when Marseille was in ligue2 in 1995? Something was missing, period.
Then, if it happens, I'll have no mercy for this disastrous way to run a club.

Not sad! Logical!

It would be sad if PSG end up in Ligue2 in few weeks.
Even if some of its fans are a bunch of suckers, this club is loved by a lot of people and its fanbase counts a lot in French football landscape.
frankly, something would be missing.
Remember when Marseille was in ligue2 in 1995? Something was missing, period.
Then, if it happens, I'll have no mercy for this disastrous way to run a club.

I think I understand what you mean.
It is always sad and disapointing to see a team that has numerous trophies, history, a legendary stadium, a large fanbase and some european fame to sink in the deepth of standings.
But as Neda say said, the "Truth of the field", our famous "Vérité du terrain", is untouchable.
PSG surely deserve what they live, the big question is why they are living this hell.
Perhaps one year in ligue2 (I don't doubt they will immediatly come back in ligue1) will help make things right in this club.

Marseille Mayor opinion in 2006 :

Un éventuel agrandissement du stade Vélodrome de Marseille ne devrait pas se faire avant 2012, a affirmé le maire (UMP) de Marseille Jean-Claude Gaudin dans un entretien à paraître mercredi dans l'hebdomadaire marseillais L'Hebdo.
"Un grand stade mais pas avant 2012", déclare le maire de Marseille en précisant qu'agrandir et moderniser le Vélodrome en le dotant d'un toit "est un travail de longue haleine".
Alors que le premier adjoint de M. Gaudin, Renaud Muselier (UMP), avait présenté en décembre un projet portant la capacité du stade de 60.000 à 80.000 places, le maire de Marseille indique à l'Hebdo que "monter à 80.000 places est un peu excessif" même si "quelques milliers de siège en plus c'est utile".
M. Gaudin rappelle par ailleurs qu'il reviendra à un jury de choisir le meilleur projet de modernisation. Renaud Muselier et l'adjoint aux Sports Robert Villani avaient dévoilé un projet de l'architecte Christophe Gulizzi en décembre.
"De ce côté-là, les précautions n'ont pas été prises. Cette maquette porte la signature de quelqu'un. Or, je le répète, il faudra mettre ce quelqu'un au concours et en concurrence", indique M. Gaudin dans cet entretien.
Le maire de Marseille avait déjà indiqué en janvier qu'une modernisation du stade Vélodrome, évaluée à 140 millions d'euros, ne pourrait être majoritairement financée que par des fonds privés.
M. Gaudin indique par ailleurs que tant qu'il sera maire de Marseille, "il est exclu de vendre le Vélodrome". (AFP)

He says that:
1/Nothing will happen before 2012

2/There's a real need to cover the stadium

3/Expand to 80.000 seems a little bit too much even if he find very usefull the idea to add a few thousand seats.

4/The model that open this topic will be mixed with other models from other architects a a jury will choose one of them.

5/Private found for the most of the 140 Millions € it will cost.

6/As long as he'll be the mayor, the city will never sell the velodrome.

What do you think?
Gaudin has just been reelected and made the expansion of the Velodrome one of the few center points of its bid.

Gaudin should be less shy about the capacity although eveybody would be happy with 70k.
Less than 70k would be money spend for nothing as far as the expansion goes...
It will depends of the other projects.
Let's say we have 4 projects, all costing around 140 millions : the one we knows at 80k three other going from 65 to 70k. I think the bigger would be choosen don't you think?

Things have heaten up since 2006.
It sounds very good!

Vilak :
As Gaudin said, the expansion is just a part of the project.
I think that for the same price the jury might favor a top noch 65/70K stadium with great roof, great comfort, shops and everything that a 80K with less improve in the other domains.

For that money I prefer the 70K stadium with more amenities to 80K with nothing changed in amenities. I want them to invest the saved money from decreasing capacity to improve viewing environment such as changing into more comfortable seats, renovating toilets and shops

For that money I prefer the 70K stadium with more amenities to 80K with nothing changed in amenities. I want them to invest the saved money from decreasing capacity to improve viewing environment such as changing into more comfortable seats, renovating toilets and shops

I'm with you on this one!

I admit you're right.
Neda say : what can be the cost of a 10.000 seats expansion?
I ask it just to know the difference of found required for a top notch 70k stadium and a 80k one.

It should be +70k (CL FINAL ;) )

I admit you're right.
Neda say : what can be the cost of a 10.000 seats expansion?
I ask it just to know the difference of found required for a top notch 70k stadium and a 80k one.

Destruction+reconstruction of the main stand with capacity upped by 10/12000. let's say 6/7000 a seat! so around 80M! Please note that I was really generous on the money here! It could be a lot cheaper. Then you have the roof but I have no idea about the its cost!

Destruction+reconstruction of the main stand with capacity upped by 10/12000. let's say 6/7000 a seat! so around 80M! Please note that I was really generous on the money here! It could be a lot cheaper. Then you have the roof but I have no idea about the its cost!


You talk about this stand?
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/2006/velodromerv5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

You talk about this stand?
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/2006/velodromerv5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Yup, I think they should go for the complete bowl style with a slick and simple elliptic roof! Gosh that stand is so ugly!

Yup, I think they should go for the complete bowl style with a slick and simple elliptic roof! Gosh that stand is so ugly!


Can't blame you. From the pitch, as shown in this pix, the landscape is especially disturbing.

OK, so with the complete bowl that would make 68.000.
There's between 2k and 12k seats left to place.

One last thing, I think most of the futurs project will simply complete the bowl and the real difference will be on the roof shape and the qualities and services added to the stadium.
I'm pretty sure the budget is set to stay around € 140 Millions .

Bon et bien voila une bonne nouvelle, qui clos un peu le debat actuel:


Le Vélodrome rénové d’ici 6 ans


Le directeur général de l’OM, Antoine Veyrat, a confié à nos confrères de La Provence que le club provençal avait l’intention d’agrandir son stade et de le rénover d’ici six ans.



«Au-delà de la couverture, on œuvre sur la rénovation complète du Vélodrome. On aspire à créer un outil doté de salons, de loges et autres infrastructures. Il faut un stade plus adapté à un club comme l'OM. Le club y travaille avec beaucoup de conviction. Propriétaire du stade, la mairie, vous le savez, a également fait des annonces sur le sujet. Nous œuvrons en étroite collaboration avec elle. Il faut élaborer le cahier des charges qui nous semble être le meilleur dans l'intérêt du club. Il s'agit aussi de définir le rôle de l'OM dans l'exploitation du stade (…) C'est tout à fait possible d'imaginer un stade moderne à Marseille avec toutes les infrastructures que l'on peut trouver dans les enceintes anglaises ou allemandes (…) Une échéance a été déterminée et celle-ci correspond au mandat actuel du maire. On a six ans pour réaliser les travaux nécessaires. Cela me paraît être un bon timing pour un nouveau stade», a confié le nouveau directeur général de l’OM, Antoine Veyrat, dans les colonnes de La Provence.

^^
Je ne vois pas en quoi ces très bonnes nouvelles closent le débat actuel.
differents projets seront présentés avec celui a ouvert ce sujet, OK, mais celui-ci n'est pas pour autant passé à la trappe. D'ailleurs si tu as remarqué j'ai fais changer le titre du thread car on ne sait pas quel project sera retenu.

OM G.M. declared that the Velodrome will be covered and huge improve in term of comfort and facilities will be made to fullfill both city and Club desire to have a stadium the kind of those who were recently built in Germany or England.:happy:

All will be finished in 2014 at the latest.:banana:

There's no clear talk about an expansion of the seating but I'm pretty sure something will be done on that subject as everybody, as the mayor said, wants a at least a few thousand seats added.:cheers:

Thank you for those news Ironman!:)

^^
Je ne vois pas en quoi ces très bonnes nouvelles closent le débat actuel.
differents projets seront présentés avec celui a ouvert ce sujet, OK, mais celui-ci n'est pas pour autant passé à la trappe. D'ailleurs si tu as remarqué j'ai fais changer le titre du thread car on ne sait pas quel project sera retenu.

OM G.M. declared that the Velodrome will be covered and huge improve in term of comfort and facilities will be made to fullfill both city and Club desire to have a stadium the kind of those who were recently built in Germany or England.:happy:

All will be finished in 2014 at the latest.:banana:

There's no clear talk about an expansion of the seating but I'm pretty sure something will be done on that subject as everybody, as the mayor said, wants a at least a few thousand seats added.:cheers:

Thank you for those news Ironman!:)

in 2014???? They have no intension of any renovations or expansions...

Who changed the thread title?

Who changed the thread title?

I did it. I asked the moderators to do it because it's no longer sure how much seats will be added in the next expansion so the 80.501 let the place to a "?".

in 2014???? They have no intension of any renovations or expansions...

2014 AT THE LASTEST. All can be finished sooner if eveything goes right but 2014 is the definite deadline for the end of the work.

They'll do it. Everybody wants it and with the Euro 2016 bid, there's more and more chance to do it.
It Will happen, believe me, it will!

OM G.M. declared that the Velodrome will be covered and huge improve in term of comfort and facilities will be made to fullfill both city and Club desire to have a stadium the kind of those who were recently built in Germany or England.:happy:

All will be finished in 2014 at the latest.:banana:

There's no clear talk about an expansion of the seating but I'm pretty sure something will be done on that subject as everybody, as the mayor said, wants a at least a few thousand seats added.:cheers:

Finnaly an official talk about a timeline.
I suppose they will complete the bowl and cover it.
A 68K Velodrome with a roof will be great.

What??? what is this new?, 80000 seats an old story?? new expansion to 68000?? i don't understand!!? :nuts:

What is the new project??

6 years! I just can't believe it, I'm glad for the fans and casual football goers who are going to enjoy something top notch!

What??? what is this new?, 80000 seats an old story?? new expansion to 68000?? i don't understand!!? :nuts:

What is the new project??

Today, we don't know what kind of expansion will be made.
I said 68k just because I think it's a project of this kind that will be choosen as it is the most logical and less expansive way to expand and cover the Velodrome.
The 80K project is still actual story.

AxelFerris:
No, the 80k is not history, what's different is that it's no longer the sole story:
We've learned that the city of marseille will receive projects from other companies, that there will be a competition between those one and the 80K and that a jury will pick what will be considered the best project. Of course, such a competition will force companies to offer the best for the less money.
Hope you understand now

Titou:
I still think that a 80.000 seats stadium is the best solution for Marseille.

Neda Say:
You can't imagine how much I'm excited to see it's finally happening!

6 years isn't that big...
At least One year to have the finalists... 2 months to choose the winner...6 to 12 months to secure the funds..... 6 months to begin the works... 2years to finish it all...so we have something like 4 years... 2012, 2013 it's not that bad judging that Lyon will be finished by 2011 2012

6 years isn't that big...
At least One year to have the finalists... 2 months to choose the winner...6 to 12 months to secure the funds..... 6 months to begin the works... 2years to finish it all...so we have something like 4 years... 2012, 2013 it's not that bad judging that Lyon will be finished by 2011 2012

Your estimation is great!
I think, as they don't yet know what kind of works will be done, that they saw far to allow heavy works if it has to be the case.
That's how I understand the 6 years given to complete everything.