The meeting between PSG and Rennes, initially scheduled for this Sunday evening at the Parc des Princes, was finally relocated to Roazhon Park due to the catastrophic state of the pitch, although it is renowned as one of the best in the world, capable of withstanding extreme winter temperatures. A scenario directly linked to the heat episodes which hit the capital this summer. The Parisian pitch, designed with seeds sown in summer which take time to take shape and have difficulty withstanding high heat, was greatly weakened by five successive heat waves, with temperatures which caused the thermometer to rise to more than 50°C at the level of the lawn. Despite the measures put in place to preserve the pitch, the repetition of this intense heat ended up considerably degrading the grass, to the point of no longer guaranteeing satisfactory conditions for a Ligue 1 match.
The very configuration of the Parc des Princes also played a role in this degradation. The stadium’s large concrete structure accentuated the accumulation and release of heat around the pitch, making conditions even more difficult for the grass. An exceptional situation which explains why PSG will ultimately not be able to launch its championship season in its usual venue. The Parisian club and the authorities therefore favored relocation to Rennes in order to allow the poster to be played in good conditions, rather than taking the risk of playing on a pitch that had become impassable. The Park, although equipped with a heated natural lawn reinforced with synthetic strands, is thus the victim of a particularly intense climatic phenomenon.
