LFP plan changes to football stadiums

If a recent movement made by the French Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) goes ahead as planned, football stadiums in the country may undergo some significant improvements.

According to the Ligue 1 website, the LFP has teamed up with the European Stadium Management Association (ESMA), with both groups meeting in the French capital earlier this week to deliberate with 300 specialists.

The stadium improvements are being pushed in connection with a Euro 2016 bid for France, with approximately 20 projects currently in the works. These ongoing ventures will cost about EUR 1.7 billion, part of which can be attributed to private investors, a first for the country.

Emirates Stadium Manager and ESMA Chairman John Beattie discussed the naming of stadias. Although the Le Mans MMArena in France will become the first venue in the country to be named by a sponsor, there are already more than 20 located in Germany.

The conversation went on to include the concept of multi-functioning stadiums, catering, and ticketing, with LFP President Frédéric Thiriez fully supporting the concept of bringing French stadiums to a higher level. Thiriez further indicated that this is time to take charge, stating "it’s now or never."