Vinci for Dunkirk Arena

An investment of €112.4 million is planned for a stadium in Dunkirk, France, which will be built by Vinci in a project expected to take 36 months to complete.

Vinci Concessions has signed a partnership contract with the Communauté Urbaine de Dunkerque (CUD), the Dunkirk Urban Community, to build and operate the Dunkerque Arena stadium.

The 332-month partnership contract covers design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of the Arena. It will have two halls with a combined seating capacity of 10,700 as well as VIP seats, boxes and walkways serving the stands, as well as the shopping and reception areas.

It will be home to the USDK handball club and the BCM Gravelines Dunkirk basketball club, and is scheduled for handover in time for the 2015 basketball and handball season.

Design and construction of the Arena will be carried out by Vinci Construction France through its subsidiaries ADIM Nord Picardie, Sogea Caroni and Dumez EPS, in association with local, smaller companies. The architectural work will be provided by Chabanne & Partenaires, in partnership with AvantPropos and AB+Architectes.

Upkeep and maintenance of the Arena will be in the hands of Vinci Facilities.

The commercial operation, including facilities management, and sporting fixture and events programming, will be handled by Société Dunkerque Arena (SDA), which will receive an annual fee from the CUD.

The total investment of €112.4 million, will be financed through an initial CUD contribution of €37 million, of which €10 million is an advance payment of the fee. There will also be an SDA equity contribution of €6 million, plus €69.4 million in bank financing.

The signing was attended by Michel Delebarre, Senator-Mayor of Dunkirk and president of the Dunkirk Urban Community, and Xavier Huillard, chairman and CEO of Vinci.