Marseille Mayor Intends To Raise Olympique De Marseille Stadium Rent

Marseille Mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin intends to “raise the rent Olympique de Marseille pays for the use of the Vélodrome,” according to 20 MINUTES. In an announcement to the city’s municipal council, Gaudin said, “We’re going to raise OM’s rent.” Marseille Financial Deputy Roland Blum said that “the Vélodrome costs the city €15M ($17M) per year, subtract the rent paid by OM, and it is €11-€12M ($12.3M-$13.5M).” The rent paid by the club is currently €4M ($4.5M) -- instead of the €8M ($9M) “recommended by the regional accounts council” -- plus a variable payment of around €3M ($3.4M) “if revenues exceed” €20M ($22.4M). Gaudin referenced the purchase of OM by American Frank McCourt “to renegotiate the lease,” which expires in ’17. It “remains to be seen if the American investor is ready to get his checkbook out.” McCourt, who cannot own the stadium “because of complex financial arrangements as a public-private partnership,” has said that the situation will not be “a problem” (20 MINUTES, 10/3).