President of Paris Saint-Germain, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, confirmed that the club would be leaving the Parc des Princes after their unsuccessful attempts to purchase the stadium from the city.
The announcement came following the halt of negotiations with the city’s municipal government, as Mayor Anne Hidalgo successfully registered the stadium as a city heritage site, preventing its sale.
Having played at the Parc des Princes since 1974, the French league champions have now been compelled to seek a new venue, amidst disputes over ownership rights with the Paris council asserting the stadium’s significance as part of the city’s heritage.
Currently, PSG holds a concession agreement for the stadium, paying an annual fee of €2 million until 2044. The club sought to acquire the stadium to expand its capacity from 48,000 to approximately 60,000 spectators.
Since Qatar Sports Investment’s acquisition of PSG in 2011, efforts have been made to purchase the stadium, which initially garnered support from Hidalgo before her reversal on the matter.
Paris Saint-Germain also expressed interest in acquiring the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, North of Paris, a venue capable of accommodating 80,000 spectators. However, the club ultimately did not participate in the government-issued tender for the stadium.
Now faced with constructing their own stadium in the outskirts of Paris, PSG has abandoned the prospect of relocating to the Stade de France, exploring land options in the vicinity for their new home ground.
Local media reports indicate that Paris Saint-Germain has been scouting locations in the suburban areas of Paris for the construction of their new stadium.
