French firm favourites to run OS

AEG and French firm Vinci  are going toe to toe to become the main operator of the Olympic Stadium.

The process  is nearing completion with an announcement by the London Legacy Development Corporation expected in the next few weeks.

Word is that Vinci will be announced as the preferred bidder of the 10 year contract to manage the Olympic Stadium with AEG finishing a close second.

AEG currently manages the O2 and initially suggested a failed joint venture with Spurs to knock down the Olympic Stadium and rebuild the stadium.

Vinci is a large construction and facilities management company which already runs stadiums including Paris’s Parc des Princes venue, Stade de France, M M Arena and  the Allianz Riviera.

Vinci Concessions is primarily active in airports, motorways and road infrastructure, rail infrastructure, stadiums and parking.

The winner of the contract will be responsible for staging concerts, corporate events and working with the stadium’s new concessionaire West Ham United from 2016.

It will be this management company who will have the responsibility on any future ground sharing arrangements with West Ham.