In the process of being bought by the powerful Arnault family and current leader of Ligue 2, Paris FC has big ambitions for the future, but intends to take its time to grow and does not aim to settle at the Parc des Princes. At least, not at the moment.
President of Paris FC and current majority shareholder, Pierre Ferracci has reached an agreement with the powerful and wealthy French Arnault family and the Red Bull firm to sell part of his shares in the short term then all of them by 2027. A buyout currently being finalized and which is almost complete since the DNCG gave the green light this Tuesday.
While waiting for the closing, scheduled for next week, Pierre Ferracci was the guest of L'Equipe du Soir on Tuesday and spoke at length about the project of the Parisian club, of which he will remain president until 2027 and the sale of his last shares. The question of identity and DNA was raised, as was the rivalry with PSG and by extension that of the stadium, knowing that Paris FC currently plays at Charléty, a 20,000-seat venue poorly suited to football and which belongs to the Paris town hall. Paris FC could soon move to Jean Bouin, just opposite the Parc des Princes.
Ferracci dreams of a “transformed Charléty”
But Pierre Ferracci has another dream: “ Antoine (Arnault) will say what he thinks next week, but my absolute dream is to play in a transformed Charléty. You were talking about identity, DNA, and casually we've been playing Charléty for a few years. We had some good times there, some not so good ones. My dream is a transformed Charléty. Is this possible? Yes, but it's difficult because there is a resident club, which is the PUC Paris (Paris Université Club). It is an omnisport club, whose fundamentals are respected. They do judo, volleyball, tennis, football and especially athletics. But a transformed stadium in Charléty would be ideal for me. »
In the meantime, Paris FC is eyeing Jean Bouin, but we will have to come to an agreement with Stade Français and there are obviously security questions linked to the proximity to the Park: “Being stuck with PSG, having to cross the street (in reference to Jean Bouin), is not necessarily idealconfirms Ferracci. Now, if we can go to Jean Bouin first… You know, Stade Français, when it came to Charléty it was to transform Jean Bouin. If we could do the opposite, that is to say go to Jean Bouin then transform Charléty, that would be ideal. In any case, we will not go to Jean Bouin at any price and we are negotiating with the Stade Français, which also has its constraints and which manages the stadium, unlike us in Charléty where it is always the city which manages it. We are negotiating with Stade Français and let’s say that the negotiations are a little complicated. I hope they will succeed. If this is not the case, we will find a solution and then we will develop Charléty with the agreement of the PUC. »
The president of Paris FC does not see PSG leaving the Parc des Princes
While PSG wants to own its stadium and cannot reach an agreement with the Paris town hall to buy the Parc des Princes, would Paris FC see itself taking PSG's place if the latter successfully completed his project to build a new stadium outside Paris? “It’s a somewhat fanciful hypothesis today, Ferracci replies. I don't see PSG leaving the Parc des Princes, any more than OM leaving the Vélodrome or Lens leaving Bollaert. Is this a PSG shareholder project? Yes, but I think we are still in negotiating positions, even if Nasser (Al-Khelaïfi) seems convinced that this project is the right one for PSG, but I don't believe it. We don't subscribe to this logic and I don't see PSG leaving Paris and the Parc des Princes. »
Relaunched on this hypothesis, the president of Paris FC added: “If PSG leaves the Parc des Princes, it would take a little time to build a new stadium… If the Parc des Princes is free because PSG no longer wants to play there, of course we will look, but it is a hypothesis which does not enter into the club's development project today because we are realistic (…) The ideal gauge for a club which establishes itself permanently in Ligue 1 and which plays the first part of table and regularly Europe, it is rather level of the Juventus stadium, around 42,000 people. It's true that with the Parc des Princes, we're not far from it if that's what you want me to say. »
What if Paris FC shared the Park with PSG?
But rather than replacing PSG, could Paris FC imagine sharing the Parc des Princes with its neighbor? “I have talked in the past about doing like in Italy with Inter and AC Milan, who are competitors and fiercely opposed, but who share the stadiumreplies Ferracci. But I'm not sure that Nasser and PSG agree. In times of shortage, when public facilities are not being increased, this is a hypothesis that should not be completely rejected. It is certain that if there was no possible extension, whether to Charléty or Jean Bouin, the question of volume would arise. For now, filling a stadium with 20,000 seats is enough for us to be happy, whether in Ligue 1 or Ligue 2.”
