Built on an area of 800 m2 at the Raoul-Barrière stadium, the brand new campus of the ASBH association was inaugurated this Tuesday, May 25. Thanks to this tool and its equipment, the club no longer has anything to envy of the greats of French rugby. And will be able to move up a gear.
The ASBH association has entered the big leagues of French rugby. With the opening of its new campus, inaugurated this Tuesday, June 25, at the Raoul-Barrière stadium, it no longer has anything to envy the most exclusive clubs of Pro D2 and Top 14. The presence of Florian Grill, president of the FFR, confirmed this.
Emerging from the ground after ten months of work, the complex and its equipment are commensurate with the ambitions of the ASBH associative sector, a true incubator for the professional team.
All this being a far cry from the initially planned installation of four… containers: “The idea was launched three years ago, remembers, with a smile, Eric Freitas, the president of the ASBH association. There was talk of installing a weight room in containers with a surface area of 60 m2 and a budget of €30,000.”
An increased budget
The piggy bank was finally broken and the budget revised upwards: “We are linked to the Institute of Sports Professions in Béziers (IMSB, read below) which also wanted to develop. We then looked for common ground, notes the leader of the association. Gérard Angély, who was then deputy for Sports at the City, suggested that we settle here.“
The work was launched in September 2023 and the site was delivered ten days in advance. In terms of budget, the association which was able, among others, to count on the Caf de l’Hérault (€150,000) and the Region (€150,000) will have put its hand into its pocket to the tune of €1.10 million. : “The IMSB will take possession of its complex at the start of the next school year. It will have paid €1.2 million.
Shifting gears
These investments will allow everyone to move up a gear: “This represents considerable development potential for us, relève Eric Freitas. We are going to change eras. We align ourselves with the best.“The campus covers a total surface area of 800 m2. It includes a weight room, equipped with the latest generation equipment. But also a reception center and offices for the club’s ALSH (leisure center), a rest room, classes, offices for the association’s sports staff… A city stadium and a large gymnasium shared by the association and the IMSB will also be available.
The staff has been revised upwards: “We are hiring two people, one who will take care of the youngest, from the “first steps” to under 14s, explains the president. She will also be responsible for relations with the clubs in the area. The other employee will supervise the cadets and the Crabos.”
Seminars and receptions
In total, the association will rely on eight employees. And the club will also embark on “business tourism”needs Eric Freitas. We can, for example, host business seminars by offering introductions to bodybuilding and going into the field. We will also have a receptive side. All of this will be a source of additional income and funding.”
The opportunity for the association’s 700 members, from First Steps to hopefuls, and the club’s sixty educators, to work in optimal conditions.
“It’s a step to go further,” underlined Robert Ménard, the mayor, recalling that the aid to the ASBH pro club and to amateurs is €5 million. “It is the preparation of the following generations” noted Thierry Mathieu, regional advisor and director of Caf Hérault.
