The municipality of Chateaubourg (35), located between Rennes and Vitré, has recently undertaken projects to enhance its sports infrastructure.
During a rich exchange with the Tarkett Sports team, Teddy Regnier, Mayor of the city, shared his initiatives and their positive impact on the local municipality.
©Tarkett Sports
Transformation of the football field
One of Chateaubourg’s flagship projects is the transformation of a football field from grass to synthetic pitch, carried out by Tarkett Sports, an investment of one million euros.
This change was essential due to the unpredictable weather conditions that made the grass field challenging to maintain. Opting for synthetic turf allows for uninterrupted use throughout the year, eliminating the need for watering and the intensive upkeep associated with natural grass. “We are particularly grappling with the challenges of climate change,” explains the mayor. “Exceptional rainfall, such as what we’re experiencing this year, significantly hampers football on grass pitches due to the extensive damage they can sustain.”
The municipality has also focused on the use of environmentally-friendly materials, opting for a natural in-fill made from corn cobs, thus avoiding microplastics. Teddy Regnier explains: “The initial specification mandated the use of a natural material, presenting two options: olives and corn cobs. Given that synthetic pitches, which typically use plastic microbeads, are expected to face bans in the near future, we chose to prioritise the corn cob option.”
“We have an excellent sporting dynamic. We have been labelled an active and sporting city, three laurels for four years now. – Teddy Regnier
The most represented sports include football, with 500 members, tennis (400 members), athletics (400 members) and handball (300 members). The sports strategy implemented ten years ago is paying off, with an overall rise in the level of all local clubs.
A sporty and dynamic city
Châteaubourg, with its 7,600 inhabitants, is a dynamic municipality both industrially and sportingly. It has about 5,400 jobs, 40% of which are in industry. Labelled “active and sporting city” with three laurels in the last four years, Chateaubourg has seen a strong increase in the number of members of its sports clubs, which now play at regional and pre-national level.
“We have an excellent sporting dynamic. We have been labelled an active and sporting city, three laurels for four years now. – Teddy Regnier
The most represented sports include football, with 500 members, tennis (400 members), athletics (400 members) and handball (300 members). The sports strategy implemented ten years ago is paying off, with an overall rise in the level of all local clubs.
A new multi-purpose sports hall
In addition to the football field, Chateaubourg is building a new multifunctional sports hall, the floor of which will be supplied by Tarkett Sports, a project worth three million euros.
“The old multi-sports hall, built in the 1970s, had deficiencies in terms of thermal and acoustic insulation, which restricted its use. The new room, which we have named the Espace Fayelle, represents a significant improvement. It will be equipped with removable stands, optimised acoustics, and a floor covering specially selected to accommodate various sports disciplines such as handball, basketball, volleyball and badminton.
The new hall will have a seating capacity of 400, with removable stands for larger events.
The sports flooring has been carefully selected to provide optimal shock absorption. We chose a high-end combination system, consisting of a shock-absorbing sub-construction covered with a PVC top layer. Teddy Regnier adds: “The quality of the flooring is crucial to the success of a gym”
This hall will also be used for cultural and associative events, thanks to its design and versatile sports flooring.
Impact and benefits for the community
The new sports facilities are already having a positive impact on the local municipality. According to the Mayor, the number of licensees continues to grow, and the performance of the teams is improving. For example, the B and C football teams have progressed to the division, and the U17 team has reached the regional level.
The development of women’s football is also booming, with teams performing well in different age categories.
“We have also undertaken a significant development of women’s football. Today, we are almost able to put together a team for each category. Women’s football benefits greatly from the presence of the synthetic pitch, which allows for substantial growth in this discipline. ” says Mr. Regnier.
©Tarkett Sports
Chateaubourg is committed to modernising its sports infrastructure, combining sustainability and quality. These initiatives aim to provide residents with optimal conditions for the practice of sport while respecting the environment. The quality of the floors and equipment is a priority, thus guaranteeing user satisfaction and the sustainability of the installations.
These projects show a clear desire to support the sporting and social development of Chateaubourg, while adapting to current environmental challenges. As Teddy Regnier says, “if you have a room that’s a cube but has an excellent floor, everyone will be satisfied.”
