For several years, the Ninkasi project in Oullins-Pierre-Bénite had been experiencing delays. This Tuesday, August 4, the announcement of the installation of the 2030 Winter Olympics Village in the new La Saulaie district finally publicly confirmed its complete abandonment.
Ninkasi Throws in the Towel Independently of Olympic Decision
The Lyon-based group, which intended to open a huge ‘third-place’ venue in a former industrial hall on the site, reportedly ‘threw in the towel’ earlier and independently of any decision related to the sporting event.
A Project Deemed ‘Very Fragile’
“Ninkasi abandoned its project, which had become very fragile over time. The Métropole had pushed for it to happen, but it wasn’t possible,” Jérôme Moroge, the mayor of Oullins-Pierre-Bénite, told our editorial team, without providing further details on the reasons for this renunciation.
The building in question, “the only industrial vestige of the district which is an old hall,” will ultimately be temporarily transformed into a restaurant for athletes.
Contacted, the Lyon-based group has not yet responded at the time of writing.
Safeguard Procedure Still Underway for Ninkasi
At the beginning of 2024, Ninkasi’s CEO and founder, Christophe Fargier, was enthusiastic about the idea of opening this new venue with “a large event hall four times bigger than in Gerland.” “We are imagining a place that will be comparable to the Halle Tropisme in Montpellier. The opening is planned for 2027-2028,” he assured in an interview with actu Lyon.
However, a year later, the project was already faltering and was “in difficulty,” according to the entrepreneur’s confessions. In early 2026, he finally explained that it was “dormant.” “We would be delighted if this project could resume at the end of the year,” he nevertheless stated.
As a reminder, since December 2025, the Ninkasi group has been benefiting from a safeguard procedure. This step was voluntarily taken with the courts to more “serenely” ensure its repayment deadlines.
The abandonment of this significant project marks a setback for Ninkasi’s expansion plans, particularly given the ongoing financial restructuring. The former industrial hall, once envisioned as a vibrant cultural and culinary hub, will now serve a different, temporary purpose for the upcoming Winter Olympics.
The mayor’s comments highlight the challenges faced by such large-scale developments, even with municipal support. The lack of detailed reasons for Ninkasi’s withdrawal leaves questions about the specific obstacles encountered during the project’s progression. The future of the site beyond the Olympics, and Ninkasi’s long-term strategy for expansion, remain to be seen.
Source: https://actu.fr/auvergne-rhone-alpes/oullins-pierre-benite_69149/ce-grand-projet-de-ninkasi-a-cote-de-lyon-definitivement-enterre-ils-ont-jete-l-eponge_64628220.html
