April 1997 - N°24
CITIES
NANTES
We talk to Jean - Marc AYRAULT, Mayor of Nantes: The "west coast effect" f Jean - Marc AYRAULT   Has it been necessary to do a lot of improvement work so that the stade de la Beaujoire could host six World Cup matches? sdf h La Beaujoire is not only a fine-looking stadium, it is a very modern one too, built for the occasion of EURO 84 in France. And therefore the budget for renovations at Nantes is lower than at all the other World Cup venues. Improvement work is progressing according to schedule and will ultimately increase capacity to 39,000 all seated. This moderate investment will no doubt be appreciated by fans for a long time after the tournament ends. What does it mean to Nantes to host the World Cup? There is a well-established footballing tradition here at Nantes, the proof being our top-flight club with its impressive honours list and highly individual style - anybody who knows about football has heard of the "Nantes style" of play. Above and beyond the club's professionals, the thousands of fans who show up every week to cheer on their team play a major role in football's phenomenal success in the west. It didn't surprise me one bit that Nantes was the first city to sell out of FRANCE 98 passes - and after only three weeks! The West Atlantic city on the estuary and its 700,000 inhabitants is advantageously positioned at the cross-roads of Brittany and the Loire, and benefits from the latest communication infrastructures. The region draws its strength from the invigorating environment and the constant injection of new talent. It's known as the "west coast effect". Welcoming people from other cultures and sharing human experiences has long been a quintessential part of the heritage of our seaside city. One need look no further than our increasingly popular festivals and our internationally famous street theatre performers for proof of that. Talking of which, what does Nantes have in store for World Cup fans? Our Regional Committee is hard at work preparing an ambitious and practical programme of events. I say "ambitious" because demand for match tickets will no doubt exceed stadium capacity and we must therefore cater for all those who unhappily don't have seats for the games. We plan to set up special areas for World Cup festivities around town, and, in doing so, aim to ensure that in fifteen or twenty years from now, people will look back at this time and remember the party atmosphere and the good feeling which existed between people. At the same time we must be realistic and discreet: we don't want to upset people's lives or overstep our budget. What economic spin-offs are you expecting for the city? Needless to say, we hope to reap a good harvest from such a huge event, especially within the tourist sector. Additionally, the World Cup provides the opportunity to enhance our profile and display our talents and potential. Such large-scale sporting events can foster a recognisable high-energy reputation and bring considerable economic benefits. Is there a particular message that you would like Nantes to convey in 1998? In 1998 Nantes celebrates the 400th anniversary of the signing of the Edict of Nantes. What better message could we send out to the world and to young people than this "edict of tolerance"? qsd Population: 252,000 dfg Urban area: 492,000 dfg Club: FC Nantes Atlantique A Stadium: La Beaujoire qsdfqsf Capacity: 40,000 seats dfg Match schedule: 5 first round matches on 13,16,20,23 and 25 June 1998; 1 quarter final on 3 July 1998