The Palais des Sports on the Quai de l’Adour will be completely renovated. A restoration which should last 18 months, which involves the creation of a room to host TGB and Union basketball matches. It will be within the exhibition grounds.
Aging, the Palais des Sports on the Quai de l’Adour is, as they say, at the end of its life, the various “bandages” are no longer having an effect… “we have been thinking about a restoration for a while, but we are obliged, on the one hand to take into account budgetary contingencies, and on the other to ensure the continuity of the holding of basketball meetings for the TGB and the Union”, explains Gérard Trémège. Because it is a complete restoration, not a simple facelift… Several avenues were studied, including the construction, nearby along the Adour, of a second Palais des Sports, which could also have served as a theater. “It was an attractive idea, but the necessary budget, €20 million, was not reasonable. We therefore opted for a total restoration.” The budget, estimated between €8 and €9 million, clearly shows that this is a major project.
18 months of work
And now the project is launched. “We have launched a competition for architects, the jury has designated two finalists, the final decision will be made on April 26, in a few days. Frankly, whatever project is chosen, it will be truly superb.” Yes, but there are always constraints. Who says big project, says duration… “There will be 18 months of work, so we had to, at the same time, think about solutions so that the TGB and Union competitions, and training, could be held .” A real headache… “We first studied the possibility of moving the matches to Pau, but certain dates could not fit. We then thought about the Palais des Sports in Lourdes, where the Union plays alternately, but it is not approved for Ligue 1 Women’s matches Then we studied the possibility of installing a “parquet floor” in one of the halls of the exhibition center, but there too, there was a lack of space. within a few meters.” No solution, and yet the counter is ticking, we are entering “money time”…
“Join what is necessary and what is useful”
“We had to find a solution, we first thought of an extension, to the east, of hall 2 bis, but there again, a few meters were missing, the road was too close. With the services, we then opted for the construction of a new hall, at the rear of hall 2, to the south of the park A new hall which will be between hall 2 and the tennis courts located on the Camescasse plain, not far from the school premises. rugby team of the TPR The idea of a removable structure, therefore temporary during the work at the Quai de l’Adour, was studied, the cost was around €500,000, but I considered that it was. money thrown out the window By creating this additional hall, we are combining the necessary, a basketball match room, and the useful, by expanding the offer at the exhibition center. Given the deadlines, it is necessary. that it be operational by May 2025, and host basketball matches from the start of the school year in September 2025. This is an investment that was not planned, amounting to €1 to €1.5 million, but we don’t really have a choice. But I view it as an investment. For the basketball clubs, I salute the success of the TGB in Bourges, and for the future of the exhibition center.”
Premises for the rugby school
For decades, the Stado rugby school, on the Camescasse plain, has been housed in premises that resemble barely improved Algecos. “It is in our plans to demolish them and build a permanent building,” recalls Gérard Trémège, “we are going to do it at the same time as the construction of the new hall. Likewise, we are going to redevelop the car parks, for basketball, tennis and rugby school.” A new sports center is taking shape…
