The City of Brussels is always open to any proposals on the future of the national stadium, whether at the Heysel Stadium or elsewhere, as long as they comply with the procedures and are feasible, the First Alderman of the City of Brussels in charge of Sport, Alain Courtois said on Thursday. “My entire political career has been guided by the belief that there is need for a national stadium for the Red Devils,” he said, adding that the Belgian football team deserved more than the simple space it has at the Roi Baudoin Stadium. “It does not matter where,” he said.
On Thursday, many newspapers reported on the proposal by Deputy Prime Minister Didier Reynders for the renovation of the stadium, supported by the Besix construction group.
Courtois recalled that at the preceding renovation of the stadium in 1996, many partners had agreed to finance the renovation, including the Parc des Expositions (Exposition Park), Belgium’s Football Fédération and the Federal Government. “I imagine there must be a funding project,” he said. “Why would anyone oppose it, in that case? If it’s a private project, a public tender is required.”
In answer to a question, the First Alderman confirmed that Ghelamco, the promoter of a planned project to build the stadium on Parking Lot C of the Heysel Stadium, still had an appeal pending against the refusal to build the stadium there.
In the case of this plan, which had been turned down, the City had executed a decision taken at another level of the State, the Brussels Regional Government, he explained.
The Brussels Times
