Forty years ago today, the FC Nantes stadium, La Beaujoire, designed by the architect Berdje Agopyan, held its first match. On May 8, 1984, as an opening, the Canaries, then led by Jean-Claude Suaudeau, hosted Romania (0-1). A meeting that did not leave an indelible mark in the memories. The currents of air that ran into the bays of the garden had more influence…
We’ll have to wait a few weeks to see a dedication poster worthy of the name. Next June 16, at the Euro, at the group stage, the French team coached by Michel Hidalgo, with Michel Platini as captain, met Belgium (5-0). For the first time, Beaujoire comes alive and vibrates in unison. His story is officially revealed.
Beaujoire through 140 certificates
These memories, among many others, were brought together by Alexis Vergereau in “Once upon a time la Beaujoire » (ed. Ouest-France). “The project will start in early 2022, two years before the stadium’s anniversarythe journalist found from Western Francethrough The Team. I wanted to pay tribute to him, to make him the main actor in the story. This is the location of so many emotions, memories, great matches of FC Nantes, of course, but not only that…”
The great legends Coupe de France de Carquefou in 2008 or Herbiers in 2018 are also told. In addition to the ten international matches of the French football team, those of the French fifteen and the 2007 and 2023 Rugby World Cup matches And more precisely, the concerts of U2, Dire Straits or Johnny Hallyday.
“The Loire Brigade has almost become a major player in the stadium, because the sports scene has not been there for years”
Alexis Vergereau, author of “Once Upon a Time in Beaujoire”
Vergereau, who has loved the Canaries since his younger years, collected 140 testimonials, from the most famous (Raynald Denoueix, Mickaël Landreau, Alain Giresse, Charles Biétry…) to the unknown ( street vendors, stewards, patrons …) . “The actors who testify in the book responded to me immediately. There is such a connection at this level… People have it in them, carry it inside them. It was an opportunity for them to tell their story of Beaujoire.”he emphasizes it.
Even the Loire Brigade, an ultra group from FC Nantes, which was quite strong with media releases, agreed to participate in the project. “Today, we travel above all for this Loire center, the very heart of the stadiumnotes the author. The Loire Brigade has almost been the main performer, the sports scene that has not been there for years. The songs, the tifos, the smoke bombs, it’s interesting. »
To properly celebrate its fortieth year, Beaujoire will host eight Olympic games this summer, between July 24 and August 8. It will primarily host the quarter-finals of the women’s competition and the match for third place in the men’s competition. A story about continuing to create new memories.
2024-05-08 11:51:34
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