Agreement in place for Lens to buy Stade Bollaert-Delelis
09/17/2024 09:52 AM
In an interview with La Voix du Nord, the president of RC Lens, Joseph Oughourlian, has confirmed that the club have an agreement with the town hall to purchase of the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. Lens reportedly could buy their home stadium for around €25 million.
Lens have played at the Bollaert-Delelis since its construction in 1933. However, like many clubs in France, ownership of the stadium remains with the local government rather than the occupants. For Oughourlian, purchasing the stadium represents a unique situation for the club and a means by which Les Sang et Or can raise additional capital.
Oughourlian explains, "Banks and financiers in general like what we call the tangible, the stone. And [buying the stadium] would place us in an interesting position, because we would be one of the very rare clubs in France, perhaps even the only one, once Olympique Lyonnais have sold their stadium, to own their own ground."
Lens to make the Stade Bollaert-Delelis a more multipurpose stadium?
The president further explains that Lens would look at the ability to bring in more revenue streams to the stadium. This could mean making the stadium increasingly multipurpose, like with Lyon who have made the Parc Olympique Lyonnais a reputable venue for hosting concerts.
