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Beneath the large scoreboard, large patches of synthetic turf litter the track. On what was—and will once again become—the sports field, two men from Art Dan are working to install a special gravel surface. Under construction for several weeks now, the Saint-Jean stadium will remain closed to the public until September 25. But when it reopens its gates, it will do so as a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility equipped with top-of-the-line amenities.
Jean-Marc Zingaretti is the site manager. He works for Art Dan, a company specializing in the installation of sports surfaces. “We handle about 150 fields a year,” explains Jean-Marc Zingaretti. “Our work ranges from the design of synthetic surfaces to installation and maintenance. We also have a waste treatment plant. Usually, when we’re at our sites, we roll up the replaced turf, wrap it in plastic, and send it to the plant.” In Saint-Barthélemy, the process will be different.
Several internet users have asked whether it’s possible to salvage sections of the old turf. At first glance, the answer is no, because Paprec Energies will collect it for disposal at the Ouanalao Environnement waste management site in Public. As for the layer of shredded PUNR (non-reusable used tires) that was under the old turf, the site manager explains that it is generally sent to a cement plant, which uses it to “heat the stone.”
Jean-Marc Zingaretti of Art Dan.
“Nothing like what was there before”
For now, the playing area is covered with a gravel surface specially designed for the facility. This initial step is accompanied by measurements and other surveying work. “We have to follow specific new standards,” says Jean-Marc Zingaretti. “A firm specializing in sports fields will conduct an inspection once the work is complete.” A “cushioning layer” will be placed over this initial surface. The site manager explains: “Since rugby is played here, a bounce test is conducted to ensure it meets standards. ” This is good news for the Barracudas and the players of the Entente des Iles du Nord, recent champions of the Antilles-Guyana league with the Rascasses in their ranks. Next will come the installation of the turf.
“This is infill-free turf,” emphasizes Jean-Marc Zingaretti. “That means it remains as it is when installed. With one million blades per square meter, we achieve the same playing quality as on natural grass. It’s nothing like what was laid before.” No fewer than 90 rolls of synthetic turf will be needed to rebuild the field. They will be securely fastened using a locking system.
OM’s Fields
In 2025, Art Dan installed 34 fields of the same type in mainland France. But that’s not all. The first trial of this new type of turf was conducted for the PSV Eindhoven soccer club in the Netherlands. Since then, numerous orders have been placed. “When the pros saw the results,” smiles the site manager, “we’re currently working on Olympique de Marseille’s training fields.” To maintain this new turf, Jean-Marc Zingaretti assures us that “sweeping” every three weeks is sufficient. “A special machine is included in the package and will arrive soon,” he explains. “We supply everything!”
Once the field installation is complete, the team will begin laying the new track. “It will be a prefabricated surface that’s the very best,” says the site manager. As for the stormwater drainage system, it has been fully inspected and cleaned out. “Everything is in perfect condition,” says Jean-Marc Zingaretti.
The entire project is expected to take four months to complete. For the local government, the renovation of the turf and the track represents an investment of two million euros.
In 2017, Hurricane Irma had devastated the facility. Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, who owns a vast estate in Gouverneur, had then financed the refurbishment of the stadium and the track. To do so, he invested nearly three million euros. The company T3 Global Projects, based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, carried out the work.
