Three foreign candidates for the naming of the Stade Velodrome in Marseille

"Large retailers, car manufacturing, banking, insurance, electrical goods, airlines," these are the sectors of the companies that are interested in the naming of the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, according to Bruno Botella, CEO of Arema, the subsidiary of the Bouygues group who are in charge of renovating the stadium.

"There are three applications from abroad, with serious leads, particularly in Asia" Botella added. "These are large companies with the means to build their reputation in France."

The name of the new partner could be unveiled as soon as August 2013.

3 difficulties with the naming of the Stade Velodrome:

1.  The cost

The cost could reach €6m per year, the amount paid by Allianz to Munich (as opposed to the €3.3m predicted in Lille and the €1.8m that Allianz pay Nice) .

2. Jean-Claude Gaudin,

The Mayor of Marseille is desparate to keep the Velodrome's historical name. "The word Velodrome will stay, I want a name associated with Velodrome" he repeated during a visit to the construction site on 22/04/2013.

3. Opposition supporters:.

An interview in June 2011 (when…