MHSC: “It will happen, here or elsewhere…”, what is the status of the Nicollin museum project and the future Montpellier Hérault stadium ?

Le projet d'origine, à Pérols, prévoyait un musée pour les collections de Louis Nicollin. D.R.

On the occasion of the opening of the exhibition “Louis Nicollin's Olympic Collection”, this Thursday, July 25, the projects for a new stadium and an adjoining museum resurfaced.

Like his father, Laurent Nicollin knows how to get messages across. After expressing “his pride” to see a small part of the family collection unveiled to the people of Montpellier, and having recalled that “we didn't hesitate for a second when Michaël Delafosse made us this proposition”, the youngest of the Nicollins slipped in a little tackle, in the greatest tradition of the MHSC. “My brother and I know that one day we will build a museum. If we have the new stadium, it might be in Montpellier. Or somewhere else in Hérault. Or maybe even in Lyon, who knows… But it will happen, here or there."

Finding the right place and the right model

Enough to put the thorny issue of the future private stadium of the MHSC back on a table that, according to Christian Assaf, it has never left. "I understand the impatience of the Nicollin family and the supporters, and I share it. We must find the right balance to allow the club to develop and the Métropole to limit the risk. But we will get there, even if it takes time." With the partial withdrawal of the Banque des Territoires, 80 million euros are missing for the Ode to the Sea project, which is on standby, to come to fruition. Other sites, such as Grammont or the Parc des Expositions, are under consideration. “We hope to finalize the location and model before the end of 2024”, argues the elected official in charge of sports policies at the Métropole.

Michaël Delafosse wants a Nicollin museum

The Louis-Nicollin Museum already has some outlines. “We worked with videographers to produce projections. As long as my father was alive, the Mas Saint-Gabriel museum was his private domain. But his pleasure was to show people around. We are convinced that we must offer the public these treasures of the history of sport", specifies Laurent Nicollin.

At Midi Libre, Michaël Delafosse reaffirmed his commitment this Thursday. "The Métropole will be there to take charge of the creation of the Nicollin museum. This exhibition is a first step…"

I subscribe to read the rest