“There is this opportunity at the Arena, we must seize it”: Laurent Nicollin details the new hope for the future MHSC stadium

“J’en ai plein le cul de le répéter, mais le stade est vital”, affirme une nouvelle fois un Laurent Nicollin “las”. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

The president of the MHSC is studying the new possibility of a stadium on the Arena site, after two new failures which he explains.

The stadium folder is always in the background. The new location, mentioned in the “JDD” of March 17, is it the last chance??

I'll be honest, I'm tired. I have been saying for years that La Mosson is obsolete and that we need a new tool. We can't see the end. One shot, it’s there, one shot, it’s over there. I'm tired of repeating it, but the stadium is vital.

Already the “ecologists” are against us, we are not going to fight over a bustard. I want to make an ecological stadium and I love nature.

Why is the initial location of Pérols completely abandoned ?

Not all of the land yet belongs to Serm (Metropolitan Regional Express Services). And since no one wants to say it, I say it: there are critters in the middle, there is a little bustard. Certainly, I am told that we are going to move it. No no. If she stays there, we are not going to change her way of life and we will look elsewhere. Already the “ecologists” are against us, we are not going to fight over a bustard. I want to make an ecological stadium and I love nature.

Why is Grammont’s option not retained ?

In view of these problems, we discussed Grammont with the town hall. There is no question that we are considering a new stadium at our training center. In addition to paying for a stadium, we should also pay for a new training center. We have paid enough. And the Scot (territorial coherence scheme) does not allow offices, restaurants to be built around the Grammont site…

If everything had been done normally, we should inaugurate the stadium in Cambacérès next season.

Is there an alternative and another site ?

The Region must bring buildings around the Arena up to standard. She suggests that we combine the development of the site, envisaged for the Expo Fair or the Sitevi in ​​particular, and the new stadium. We are studying the financing plan and the feasibility of building it next to the Arena. Communities need to talk to each other. We would keep essentially the same project. If we leave with them, it will take between three and five years. Political time is not the same as private time.

What keeps you going?

At the moment, nothing is pushing me because I have my ass full of it. If it happens, hallelujah, if it doesn’t happen, we’ll see. I won't do five or ten years at La Mosson. I found articles dating back five years, where I said the same thing. I feel like I'm half a fool. That’s all I can’t stand. I am tired. There is this opportunity, we must seize it. We need this fucking stadium!

My father is more than caned, I shouldn't be so caned. And if everything had been done normally, we should have inaugurated the stadium in Cambacérès next season.

Don't you have the impression that there is a lack of consideration towards the MHSC after ten years of the project? ;?

With politicians, there has always been a listening, a desire and a choice. Michaël Delafosse received us the day after his election. He wanted us to build the stadium. In any case, the Banque des Territoires put us in trouble when we had to submit the building permit…

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