LigaTurf Cross and Rekortan M at Stade du Fort Carré in Antibes Juan-les-Pins
Against a stunning backdrop
Our synthetic turf pitches are high-quality, state of the art, durable, and always an economically attractive alternative to natural grass pitches. And – if we do say so ourselves – we think they look beautiful. But sometimes even we must confess that they cannot compete against a far more beautiful backdrop. For example, in Antibes, where our LigaTurf Cross turf was installed. Meanwhile, an athletics running track Rekortan M stands out in brick red at the neighbouring Stade du Fort Carré. However, both of them are no match for the view, which involuntarily draws the eye towards the city of Nice, across the expanse of the “Baie des Anges”. The extraordinary “Bay of Angels”, the epitome of the French Riviera, has always captured the imagination.
Its charm not only attracts countless tourists today, but also fascinated Pablo Picasso. He worked in Antibes for 60 years, a piece of history that is now commemorated at the Musée Picasso Antibes. An oft-overlooked fact amongst the rich cultural and historic past of the ancient city, is that together with the seaside resort Juan-les-Pins – one of the most popular holiday destinations on the Côte d’Azur – it is one of the most “athletic” communes in France. More than 18,400 athletes are registered in Antibes Juan-les-Pins – more than 22% of the population! 162 clubs and associations offer a wide range of sports to an enthusiastic public – with over 200,000 m2 of sports facilities.
One of them is the Stade du Fort Carré, built as a football stadium and inaugurated in 1912, one of the largest stadiums in France in its day. It hosted one of the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup 1938. Today, it is predominantly used for athletics. The circular running track was renovated in 2018 and fitted with Polytan Rekortan M, our professional sports surface that stands out for its speed and high shock absorption. It also offers excellent acceleration and step-elasticity.
At its head, the eight-lane running track in the Stade du Fort Carré – where some of the historic stands are still standing – borders on a synthetic turf football pitch, installed in 2021. The chosen surface was our LigaTurf Cross, which combines two filament types into the perfect football pitch and resembles real football turf in terms of both look and feel. The pitch is used by players from the Football Club Antibes, which has 13 teams – ranging from juniors to seniors – and currently plays in the sixth division, the Division d’Honneur. Perhaps even better, the players get to enjoy the breath-taking view of the Bay of Angels. And, of course, our synthetic turf – another little gem on the Côte d’Azur.
