Paris Saint-Germain has yet to choose between the Parc des Princes, Poissy, and Massy for its future stadium; new meetings are scheduled for October, and the target date for inauguration could be as late as 2035, according to L’Équipe. Nine years. At that distance, it is hard to sketch out the stands. Yet, it is becoming equally difficult to keep seeing absolutely nothing take shape in the project.
A saga that is really starting to drag on
- Things are moving, without really progressing
The stadium issue has been with PSG for long enough now that every new piece of information triggers much the same reaction: “Oh, things are moving.” Only to discover, a few lines later, that nothing has actually been decided yet.
This time, however, things do seem to be moving forward. Paris, Poissy, and Massy remain under consideration; new steering committee meetings are set for mid-October, and the club hopes to finalize its choice before the end of the year. Notably, Le Parisien reports that expanding the Parc des Princes is indeed one of the three scenarios still being explored. But between studying a possibility, favoring it, and actually bringing it to fruition, there are still a few hurdles to clear.
- 2035 is just around the corner… well, almost
The most staggering aspect lies elsewhere: the stadium being discussed today might not exist in its new form until 2035. A decade—or nearly so—separates the initial choices from their realization. This inevitably makes current announcements difficult to comment on.
What capacity? What financing? What setting? What kind of project surrounding the venue? Even the location remains unknown. At this stage, claiming to analyze the details of PSG’s future stadium would be more a matter of crystal-ball gazing than journalism.
Confidentiality in negotiations does not require management to remain silent
- PSG is inevitably treading a fine line
One thing must be acknowledged about PSG: this situation is not a game of Football Manager. Between ownership of the Parc, discussions with the City of Paris, technical studies, available sites, transport links, potential legal challenges, and the necessary investment, the club cannot announce a definitive project before securing the fundamentals.
The Parc itself perfectly illustrates this complexity. After years of deadlock, talks with the City of Paris have resumed, and the possibility of a sale—along with various expansion scenarios—is once again being explored. Consequently, the situation can change completely in just a few months.
- But management can still explain the general direction
However, there is a difference between being unable to unveil a finalized project and leaving stakeholders in a state of prolonged uncertainty regarding the overall strategy. PSG could gradually explain what it is looking for.
Why does it need a new stadium or a radically transformed Parc? To what extent can the current stadium meet its ambitions? What conditions would make a move necessary? And, above all, what role does the club intend for its fans to play in this transformation?
What supporters are waiting for today is not so much architectural blueprints as a clear strategic vision.
Choosing a stadium isn’t just a matter of crunching numbers
- Staying put isn’t necessarily the easy option
Because beyond questions of capacity and revenue lies something far harder to quantify. Leaving the Parc des Princes would likely be one of the most significant decisions in the club’s modern history. Conversely, staying would require finding a way for PSG to expand its stadium sufficiently—ensuring the club doesn’t simply cling to its past at the expense of its future.
There is no obvious solution, then. Treating the Parc as sacrosanct—to the point of ruling out any discussion—would be just as simplistic as assuming a 70,000- or 80,000-seat stadium automatically solves every problem simply because it offers more seats, VIP boxes, and restaurants.
- Supporters shouldn’t only see the project at the very end
And what about the fans? Some would likely follow PSG anywhere. Others might view leaving the capital—or the Parc—as a break they are unwilling to accept. No one can make that choice for them.
Precisely: the weightier the decision, the more important it is to explain it, rather than simply unveiling it as a done deal. This project isn’t just about executives, architects, or local authorities; it also involves the club’s identity and how its supporters envision their future with it.
2035 is far enough away to give PSG time to build a stadium. That is no reason to wait nine years before building support for the project. Concrete can wait; trust, far less so.