Paris La Défense Arena turned into a makeshift hospital? According to news released in Le Parisien, Racing 92 rugby club president Jacky Lorenzetti and former Minister of Sport Jean-François Lamour have proposed to transform Paris La Défense Arena into a health center to welcome sick people. In order to help Parisian hospitals, already overcrowded, this solution would support the war effort requested since the beginning of the health crisis by the executive.
In the same time, the former minister has said to the Ile-de-France newspaper the arena – also known as U Arena – “has been clearly identified by the health authorities – naming the Agence Régionale de Santé – to house an emergency health center”. Why is this arena more fitting than another one? If the ARS chose Paris La Défense Arena as a potential health center, it’s first and foremost for “its heated features enjoying all necessary amenities”. Moreover, its layout – making it the world’s biggest multimodal arena – enables it to welcome 32,000 spectators in rugby layout and up to 40,000 people in concert layout.
Furthermore, the U Arena already welcomed back in 2018 and 2019, as part of the Grand Froid plan, homeless in an adjoining multifunctional room. So far, the rugby team’s stadium set in Nanterre, is useful for packing meal trays given everyday to those in need. A measure that would be definitely useful to help health and municipal services on the frontlines in the fight against the coronavirus epidemic.
