What are PSG’s alternatives to the Parc des Princes?

Paris Saint-Germain have begun to explore alternative options to the Parc des Princes, in the case that they cannot buy the stadium from the city of Paris, and are considering a move outside of the city to a neighbouring community. 

The club have been heavily linked in the past year with a proposed attempt to purchase the Stade de France from the French government, as an alternative if they were not able to come to an agreement with the Paris city council over their current home. 

In an interview with L’Équipe, earlier this week club president, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, confirmed that PSG are exploring multiple options regarding their future home, ‘We have other options than the Stade de France… at least three if not four.’ While, in Le Parisien, Al-Khelaïfi mentioned that there was a ‘dedicated team working on this project.’ 

The preference according to Le Parisien would be to negotiate a sale for the Parc des Prince. PSG would be inclined to remain in their historic home. However, this option appears to be increasingly unlikely with the city remaining steadfast against any sale to the club. 

This has led to PSG exploring options outside of the city, and according to L’Équipe, the club could consider a move to the new town of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines just outside of Paris. 

A move away from Paris and the Parc des Princes? 

According to the paper, the club have previously located a site within the new town, in the commune called Montigny-le-Bretonneux. This land had previously been studied in the past as an option for the new training centre, which was instead built in Poissy. 

There has been no contact between PSG and the Montigny-le-Bretonneux town hall, but according to Le Parisien, the commune would be favourable to the club’s interests. 

The mayor of the commune, Lorraine Merckaert, stated to Le Parisien that it would be a ‘realistic option,’ as the area already has experience with sporting events, as the installation of the National Velodrome has seen the commune regularly host cycling championships. 

L’Équipe mention that the location of the commune is particularly favourable to PSG who wish to remain close to their historic home and to their training centre, and the fact that the area is served by a train station and a motorway would help ease some of the concerns over a move away from the city. 

There is a growing feeling with Montigny-le-Bretonneux that the ‘day Paris Saint-Germain have definitively slammed shut the door on Paris, we will have proposals.’ 

Options with problems 

However, this is not the only option that PSG have considered, but as L’Équipe reports, each one is met with some resistance or difficulty that Montigny-le-Bretonneux does not appear to possess.

PSG have looked at building a stadium next to their training centre in Poissey. The club, according to L’Équipe, own a considerable amount of land within the area. However, it is reported to be insufficient for the size of stadium that PSG require, while transport to the area also would be incapable of serving the needs of the club. 

An option that would keep the club within the city, was allegedly explored when the club considered buying land in the Saint-Cloud racecourse. The club, according to L’Équipe, made contact with the owners of the racecourse, France Galop, near the beginning of 2023. 

France Galop was said to be interested in selling up to 75 hectares of the site to PSG, with the condition that the races were to be preserved. Yet, this option appears to have been scuppered, as the racecourse has been classified as a non-constructible zone. 

The final option appears to be to build a stadium by buying up the land of unoccupied offices, such as they do in the United States. There are many such sites in Paris and this option would see the club remaining within the city.

GFFN | Nick Hartland