The €400 million New Lyon Stadium, France’s first fully privately financed stadium, has been completed on schedule in Décines. Mott MacDonald has acted as lenders’ technical advisor to the Foncière du Montout special purpose vehicle on the scheme for the past three years.
With a capacity of 59,186 seats, the stadium will be the permanent home of local top-flight football club Olympique Lyonnais and will host 2016 European Football Championship games and both 2016 European Rugby Cup finals. The stadium features an adaptable capacity for concerts, while a new state-of-the-art training ground, a hotel and a leisure area, which will house a sports museum, club shop and high-class brasserie, are also included in the overall complex.
Mott MacDonald has supported the development of the stadium throughout its lifecycle. During the financial close process the consultancy delivered technical due diligence and also provided an independent review of the business plan. Once the project moved into construction Mott MacDonald offered continuous and extensive monitoring services to help keep the stadium’s delivery on time and budget. The consultancy will now monitor operations in an ongoing role.
Erwann Pile, Mott MacDonald’s project director, said: “We have been involved on this project, alongside Olympique Lyonnais and their lenders, since the very beginning and have played an instrumental role in making the deal bankable and securing the necessary financing.”
“This new generation stadium will be fully connected digitally and feature new technological innovations, such as an Internet Protocol television system which will run on 300 screens, offering a unique spectator experience,” Erwann added.
The stadium hosted a grand opening on January 9 which included its first football match between Olympique Lyonnais and Troyes AC.