If there is a good student at the end of the school year, it is Les Halles, according to the activity report presented this Monday, June 24 at the Pau municipal council. “After a year 2022 which confirmed a very clear recovery in activity and had benefited from very positive post-Covid impacts, the year 2023 reinforces the strong attractiveness of the site and a real commercial dynamic,” indicates the deliberation.
First sign: attendance which increased by 40% between 2022 and 2023. Another element: the rental of meeting rooms at the Tour de la République also jumped by 35%. Thus, the 2023 accounts show a surplus of 22,000 euros, after absorption of the deficit. Despite increasing operating costs (notably due to the cost of energy), revenues have also increased, with the amount of the stall fee reaching 100% in 2023.
“Will their profitability be there with 100% rent? », asks councilor Sylvie Gibergues. “Seven stalls are still empty. » “Numerous applications” have been submitted, says trade assistant Thibault Chenevière.
In this context of positive financial balance, the Municipal Council proposed to renew the current mode of operation of the establishment through a public service concession awarded to the SPL Halles et République.
The downside of the Expo Fair
The big black spot comes back to the Exhibition Center. The structure, with a deficit of more than half a million euros in 2023, also weighs down the accounts of the SPL Pau Béarn Pyrénées Événements which brings together the Zénith, the Exhibition Center and the Beaumont Palace. “In this deficit, fluids play a very important role,” explains finance assistant Jean-Louis Peres. But beyond the economic aspect, there is a structural reflection to be made and that is what we are trying to do. »
Changes are thus envisaged concerning the Pau Fair, which is seriously lacking in attractiveness. Thibault Chenevière recalled that, last year, concerts were canceled and the gourmet stands did not work fully either due to weather issues. It should be “shorter, more festive”, indicates Jean-Louis Peres. And the September Fair will have “gastronomy” as its theme, announces Thibault Chenevière.
Elected officials are also asking themselves the question of the Exhibition Center model. The objective is to intensify activities throughout the year. For opposition councilor Jérôme Marbot, “we have this handicap of having a large park, with six halls”. He imagines moving a hall to the Rives du Gave.
“We all considered moving the Exhibition Center,” replied Mayor François Bayrou. But it is not that simple. Particularly on the banks of the Gave, imagine the traffic of heavy goods vehicles. » The chief magistrate affirms “to have elements allowing him to think that next year’s activity will be better”. He is still campaigning for an agricultural show, as launched two years ago.
The mayor, “attached to the back-to-school fair,” shared his conviction that buildings are “not that obsolete.” “We can sell the Palais des Expositions”, particularly on events coupled with the Palais Beaumont, assures François Bayrou.
73 events at the Zénith
The latter presents a mixed situation. In the report brought to the attention of elected officials, the places are facing a drop in attendance, despite an increasing number of demonstrations. 64,400 people passed through the doors of the Beaumont Palace, compared to nearly 75,000 in 2022. “There is good activity at the congresses,” assured Jean-Louis Peres to his counterparts. The building, which is orphaned by the orchestra which now performs at the Foirail, offered a program of shows to compensate.
The Zénith de Pau, which is owned by the City, presents a better appearance in 2023. The premises hosted “73 events including three plays, four private events and six events organized internally (afterwork)”. Elected officials thus consider that the Zénith “has returned to normal activity”.
Mainstream comedies also performed well. In total, the number of spectators is up in 2023 with around 170,000 people compared to 146,000 the previous year. The concerts of Bigflo and Oli, Soprano and Sardou alone welcomed nearly 31,000 people.
The turnover amounts to more than 2 million euros compared to 1,777,000 in 2022. “The French variety corresponds to 42% of the turnover of 2023.” The elected officials thus recorded a net result of operating at 262,000 euros.
