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Plans have been unveiled to expand the capacity of Marseille's Stade Vélodrome from 60,000 to 80,000 places.
The designs drawn up by architect Christophe Gulizzi were revealed earlier this week by Renaud Muselier, assistant to the local mayor, and they include a roof, 3000m² of VIP seating, lounges, a restaurant, an amphitheatre, shops and office space over a total surface area of 43,500m².
"This project has the support not only of Renaud Muselier, but also of OM's majority shareholder Robert Louis-Dreyfus and myself," explained the city's sports development officer Robert Villani.
"The decision will now be made by mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin and the municipal council within the next three to four months."
The mayor's office turned down a similar proposal in May, arguing that it would cost the city too much, but the £95m price tag on the current blueprints would be paid for by the private sector.
"The city of Marseille will by no means have to invest in this project, even though the stadium will remain municipal," added Villani.
"At the very worst, the city will take part in a joint public-private partnership, but for such a small sum that it would not be significant."
According to local newspaper La Provence, Robert-Louis Dreyfus is said to have already secured £68m towards the costs from American pension funds.
Should the initiative be shown the green light, building work will start in 2008 – after the Vélodrome hosts its allocated Rugby World Cup matches the year before.
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