Paris-Saint Germain are sick of the stalemate surrounding their prospective purchase of the Parc des Princes and, following the latest move by Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo to shut down any sale, it is now more likely than not that PSG will move home.
Having first started discussions to own the Parc des Princes eight years ago, and following a recent 18-month public impasse over trying to buy their current home, 90min understands the French champions are now actively planning for alternative sites. Their preference is to do this as fast as is reasonably possible.
Arctos Sports Partners, who now own a stake of up to 12.5% in PSG, view a world-class stadium as a minimum requirement and made this clear during investment talks. They are helping fund all infrastructure costs at the club, and sources close to the private equity firm reveal they’d like clarity on PSG’s long-term home before the end of 2024.
Hidalgo recently insisted the Parc des Princes won’t be sold to PSG under any circumstances. “There will be no sale of the Parc des Princes,” she told Ouest-France. “It is the heritage of the Parisian people. The subject is closed.”
It should be noted Hidalgo is under some political pressure. Her position on Parc des Princes was put to a city council vote on Tuesday. There were 64 votes to keep the stadium under government control with none against the motion, but there were 86 abstentions – a high and significant number.
Hidalgo plans to stand again for re-election in 2026, and PSG are not inclined to simply wait with a view to outlasting her and then resolving the Parc des Princes situation.
Instead, PSG want urgent and modern upgrades done to the Parc des Princes if they are to stay, at an estimated cost of €500m. But they are not prepared to pay for these if still only tenants and not owners. The current lease expires in 2043 and PSG will only invest in the stadium’s infrastructure if they own it, having already spent around €85m on its maintenance to date.
PSG value the Parc des Princes between €80m and €100m and it is understood that ballpark was determined using Hidalgo’s own property valuers. Yet Hidalgo – despite her most recent ‘not-for-sale’ stance, which PSG argue has been inconsistent – has quoted numbers as high as €300m.
With low confidence there will be any change of heart in the near future, the club have now actively decided to plan for an Parc des Princes exit and are seriously exploring three alternative sites.
Moving also comes with the advantage of a likely bigger capacity. PSG would expand the 48,583-Parc des Princes to at least 60,000 if they stay, but a new stadium could hold up to 75,000 fans.
The closest option to the Parc des Princes is understood to be the 19,904-capacity Stade Jean-Bouin, which is also owned by the City of Paris. It is already the home of Paris Saint-Germain Feminine. Stade Jean-Bouin was originally considered as a Paris Olympics venue for rugby sevens.
Sources close to the French government state a sale might be possible at the right price since the rugby and American football which currently take place at Stade Jean-Bouin could easily be moved to the Parc des Princes should PSG vacate.
Another concrete government-owned option is Stade Sebastien Charlety – a 20,000-capacity stadium that houses Paris FC. This is a venue the City of Paris is very happy to sell. PSG would have to knock it down and rebuild on the site, potentially resulting in Paris FC needing a new home.
A third site that has been looked at is Paris La Defense Arena, which currently holds over 30,000 and was only opened in 2017. It is the home of rugby side Racing 92, but they will almost certainly return to Colombes after the Olympic Games. Their old Yves-du-Manoir stadium was renovated to host Olympic hockey this summer just when it seemed the venue might be destroyed, and it’s now fit for purpose to stage big games.
This means La Defense, which will host Olympic swimming and water polo, suddenly becomes a viable option. PSG considered building their campus there before eventually opting for Poissy. The downside is La Defense also hosts high-profile music concerts, which tend to be booked quite far in advance, and it sits in a business district.
PSG aren’t short of other options, although some come with complications. Poissy is a fantastic and modern facility that only opened last year and cost around €350m. Building it was one of PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s core goals.
It would be logical to explore a new stadium close to the Poissy campus and there is a nearby racetrack that could potentially be used to build a stadium on. The main challenge is Poissy is around 25km from the centre of Paris. This option hasn’t been entirely ruled out.
Former Poissy mayor Karl Olive was influential in helping PSG get their campus off the ground, and is Member of the French Legislative Assembly. It is not impossible Olive gains more influence over sport, or one day even stands for mayor of Paris. This would be a welcome development for PSG, albeit they won’t be waiting for the next Paris mayoral election before determining their new home.
The Saint-Cloud Racecourse has also been discussed, but it is not seen as viable. And the same can be said for Montigny-le-Bretonneux, a commune in Yvelines.
Montigny Le Bretonneux mayor Lorrain Merkart did claim PSG relocating was a “realistic option” but several sources indicate the club don’t want to move that far into the suburbs. The aim is for a venue in a more thriving and typically Parisian location. Arctos are also keen for any new stadium to have hotels, shops and even new residential builds factored into it.
Accor Arena is another currently discounted option. PSG have a ‘lifestyle’ partnership with the hotel brand. Plus, Al-Khelaifi has an excellent relationship with Accor chairman Sebastien Bazin. But there are concerns over transport links to the venue.
The biggest plot of land that could be used is the Bois de Vincennes, which is certainly appealing to PSG in theory. But a sale is extremely problematic. Not only is the Bois de Vincennes also owned by the French government, but any stadium would need to be housed well away from the Château of Vincennes.
The Stade de France was also considered in 2023, but PSG chose not to meet last month’s 3 January deadline to submit an offer. Sources say the club feel other venues are more appealing and easier to develop, and that the €600m asking price is quite steep.
What is clear – especially in light of Hidalgo’s latest comments – is PSG are now in a rush to firm up a new home. The club officially declined to comment when approached on their plans, but it’s understood from sources that they will now waste no time. It’s a case of ‘watch this space’ in 2024 because PSG are now, after Hidalgo’s latest move to shut down any Parc des Prince sale, actively exploring alternatives. It’s likely no longer ‘if’, but ‘when’ PSG move.
