Stabilisation achieved by the club from western France favours infrastructure development plans. Angers SCO will be able to boast two modern stands next year.

Long-term lease of stadium secured

The present campaign is the seventh consecutive season for "Le SCO" in Ligue 1. Playing in the top tier in France generates significant income that allows Angers to improve Stade Raymond Kopa year by year.

At this point, the club is carrying out the second stage of stadium redevelopment. In the first quarter of 2022, the venue is expected to reach 19,350 seats. This will be the end of works on the new east stand (Saint-Léonard), which began in September 2020.

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The coronavirus pandemic and problems with water seeping into the basement of the east tribune have slowed down the second phase of the investment, initially scheduled for completion in 2021.

Earlier, in 2017-2018, the south stand was rebuilt (1st phase). The total cost of works in the first two phases is expected to be € 30-35 million. In the following years, the time will come for reconstruction of remaining tribunes.

In May 2018, Angers OSC concluded an agreement with the city, under which it received the stadium for a 35-year lease. The city authorities also subsidised the first stage of the modernisation. The second phase is to be mostly financed by the club.

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New main stand next year

The first stage ended with commissioning of a rectangular stand behind the goal (Colombier) with a capacity of 4,447 seats. It replaced the old crescent-shaped structure. The cost of works in the first phase was € 6.4 million excluding tax.

In the second stage, a new main grandstand (Saint-Léonard) with 5,139 seats (including 25 boxes) will be created and covered with a cantilevered roof. At its highest point, it will be 21 metres.

Office spaces are planned at its rear and two amphitheatres in the corners with 350 and 250 seats. There will be a restaurant and event rooms at the back of the upper level. All this will provide income for the club outside of match days. Upon completion of Saint-Léonard tribune, lighting masts will be removed and LED floodlights will be installed on the roof top, designed to provide 2,500 lux.

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Coubertin and Jean-Bouin stands are also to be reconstructed, but at a later date. The first one is a modular structure. Club's management would like to transform it into a permanent structure based on reinforced concrete. Its facilities would fulfill service functions.

Jean-Bouin tribune is to be moved towards the pitch and partially lowered. Such a solution would allow for obtaining an additional several hundred seats. Ultimately, at least two corners of the stands are to be built up. The space of the other two will be used for planned parking lots.

In addition, a building with an area of 8,000 square metres is to be erected on a plot of 3,600 square metres right next to the stadium, where a brewery, fan shop and service premises are planned.

Author: Tomasz Sobura