Christian Constantin on his violent project and the death of the art patron: “Gianadda almost thanked me that he ended up in the hospital”

How?
My contract with the city to rent the tourbillon expires on December 1, 2024. The club would therefore be without a stadium.

That would mean the end of professional football in Valais.
Yes. Then we stop playing professional football here. Even if we were back in the Super League. The budget would drop to approximately 1.2 million. But I would also stay in this case. After all, FC Sion is mine.

Were there anyone interested in taking over the club?
The “Collectif Tourbillon” was founded to handle the transition to a new owner and save professional football.

And?
Their idea may be noble. But when it came to money, things ended quickly. The initiators do not recognize the reality of professional entrepreneurship. The club is not free. But I don’t want to talk about the worst case scenario or about so-called stakeholders, but about the awakening that is noticeable.

Is the city really willing to build a new stadium? And you have also presented one or two stadium projects in the past that were never realized.
This requires the will of the executive and legislature. Negotiations with the municipal council are already well advanced. Parliament is not yet involved in the project.

Once again: there is a concrete will, after the city seemed quite indifferent after announcing that it would shut down.
The will to find a solution is there. The will to have a modern infrastructure and maintain professional football. This sport has a certain importance in Valais. The city and the canton also felt this.

You will no longer be the main patron you were before.
No. The foundation that has to build the stadium supports the club with 10 million francs annually. Together with other income such as entrance fees, sponsorship fees, marketing, merchandising and catering income, you can manage a budget of approximately 30 million that is suitable for the Super League.

Where will these 10 million come from?
The project includes a residential complex. Property and rental apartments. The foundation buys this and 10 million of the rental income goes to the club.

How many meetings have there been?
Three, maybe four. I don’t remember exactly.

Who was there?
Representatives of the city, the canton and myself.

When will the final decision be made?
Within the next few weeks. It should be January.

Without a positive outcome, FC Sion will not be able to obtain a license.
That’s true.

Is that enough time?
The license application must be submitted to the league by March 2. I assume ours will be incomplete.

Then you waive the first instance.
In any case, you must submit the application. Even if the documents are incomplete. Otherwise you have no right of appeal.

And can you handle the appeal in a timely manner?
You have until the end of April. That’s enough.

Was this stadium project your own idea or did the city ask you to develop one?
That was my idea.

Please explain.
Well, an academy is planned, which will also be located on city land. In the Châteauneuf district. The land is owned by the military and the community. Eight football fields and two buildings for cloakrooms for both juniors and professionals and offices are planned. 27 million francs is budgeted for this.

And the stadium?
This should be right next to the old tourbillon. It must be multifunctional. The capacity for a football match is 15,000 and for concerts 25,000. Here the budget is 180 million. It will include a permanent spherical stage of 10,000 square meters. Just like the Sphere in Las Vegas.

Isn’t that a bit megalomaniac for Wallis?
In Valais we have to stop tinkering or trying to make something new out of something old. Valais also deserves urban structures.

Who will own the stadium?
The land belongs to the municipality of Zion. But the foundation owns the building, for which it has been given an operating permit for 60 years. The city gives the arena use to the club.

How much does it all cost?
All together the budget, including the residential complex, amounts to 510 million francs.

Also that: a lot of money…
That’s 20 percent of the total of all my projects currently in development.

What will happen to the old stadium?
The intention is to demolish it in 2032 and create a mix of residential and commercial properties, the rental income of which will also be used to support the club.

How much does CC earn?
55 million.

Change the subject. The day of this interview is the day Léonard Gianadda was buried. Don’t you feel guilty about his death? They took him to the hospital, where he didn’t come back alive…
I blamed myself terribly, but I did it anyway. But Léo told me not to blame myself.

Why?
I should see his stay in the hospital as a sign from heaven. This is a unique opportunity for him.

How is that?
He was still working like crazy. He told me that he never worked as hard between the ages of 80 and 88 as he did between the ages of 80 and 88. He was seriously ill, had terminal cancer and stopped eating. The doctors had given him another five years five years ago. First, he received many messages from friends that he would otherwise never have received. Secondly, he had time in the hospital to sort everything out before he left. For example, his relationship with his two sons. He was able to say goodbye to everyone. He even said: this stay in the hospital was a stroke of luck for me.

Yourself: How long do you want to continue working?
I see it as an advertisement for the Tintin stories. It says the comics are for all boys from 7 to 77 years old.