Debrication’s Unquantifiable Impact: Regional Chamber of Accounts Reports on Bullfighting
- The Occitanie Regional Chamber of Accounts has released its final report examining public subsidies for bullfighting in the cities of Saint-Gilles (Gard) and Béziers (Hérault) between 2019 and...
- The report indicates that Saint-Gilles has continued to allocate notable funds to support Spanish-style bullfighting, known as "corrida." The municipality reportedly subsidized the events with up to €160,000...
- According to the city, eliminating subsidies would necessitate higher ticket prices, perhaps leading to decreased attendance.
Occitanie Region Scrutinizes Public Funding for Bullfighting
Table of Contents
- Occitanie Region Scrutinizes Public Funding for Bullfighting
- Occitanie Region bullfighting Funding: Your Questions Answered
- What is the Occitanie Regional Chamber of accounts investigating?
- What did the report reveal about Saint-Gilles’ subsidies for bullfighting?
- What is the city of Saint-Gilles’s defense for these subsidies?
- How much did Saint-Gilles and Nîmes Métropole spend on tickets during the review period?
- What is the Anticorrida Alliance’s position on these subsidies?
- What concerns did the Chamber of Accounts raise about contracts with bullfighters?
- How is Béziers involved in funding bullfighting?
- How many tickets are distributed annually in Béziers, and at what value?
- How does Béziers defend its support for bullfighting?
- What is the city’s argument regarding arena costs?
- What economic benefits does Béziers cite in relation to bullfighting?
- Key Financial Data Summary: Saint-Gilles vs. Béziers
The Occitanie Regional Chamber of Accounts has released its final report examining public subsidies for bullfighting in the cities of Saint-Gilles (Gard) and Béziers (Hérault) between 2019 and 2023. The inquiry was initiated following a request from 1,550 members of the Anticorrida Alliance.
Saint-Gilles Subsidies Under Scrutiny
The report indicates that Saint-Gilles has continued to allocate notable funds to support Spanish-style bullfighting, known as “corrida.” The municipality reportedly subsidized the events with up to €160,000 annually, covering approximately 82% of the financial losses incurred by the association “Toro Passion.”
According to the city, eliminating subsidies would necessitate higher ticket prices, perhaps leading to decreased attendance. The audit also revealed that the municipality and Nîmes Métropole spent €9,125 on tickets during the reviewed period.These figures do not include the cost of providing and maintaining arenas and corrals,veterinary services,and a social counter managed by Urssaf du Gard.
Eddy Valadier, the mayor of Saint-Gilles, defended the subsidies, stating, “Culture is generally in deficit. It is indeed not specific to bullfighting.” He added that the “ecosystem around bullfight creates wealth” and benefits local businesses.
Culture is generally in deficit. It is not specific to bullfighting.
Anticorrida Alliance Responds
Claire Starozinski, president of the Anticorrida Alliance, criticized the continued financial support. “The bullfight is maintained with public subsidies in all Taurine cities,” she stated, questioning the rationale for sustaining events that operate at a loss.
The bullfight is maintained with public subsidies in all Taurine cities.
The Chamber of Accounts also raised concerns about the clarity of contracts with bullfighters. The report noted the “singular character of the negotiation of bullfighters and the predominance of an oral culture around the amount of the granted stamps,” suggesting a lack of transparency in the contracting process.
The Regional Chamber of Accounts is astonished by the “singular character of the negotiation of bullfighters and the predominance of an oral culture around the amount of the granted stamps”.
Béziers’ Financial Involvement
The report also examined public funding for bullfighting in Béziers.The Chamber of Accounts found that between 2019 and 2024, the city provided €519,601 in direct financial support for bullfighting, along with non-quantifiable benefits. An additional €188,000 was allocated to the Taurine school, UVTF, the Federation of Taurine clubs in Biterrois, and various taurine associations for bullfighting events and direct subsidies.
The report estimates that 1,400 bullfight tickets are distributed annually. For example, 1,000 tickets offered for the four bullfights during the 2023 Feria were valued at approximately €44,960. The report also noted that the value of goods made available by the municipality to the organizing company was not accounted for.
707,601 euros were thus engulfed in 6 years by Spanish bullfighting
The Béziers town hall defended its support for bullfighting, stating that it “defends bullfighting each time it is attacked and weighs with all its weight to enhance it.” Regarding attendance, the town hall cited the Chamber of Accounts report, noting a 61% increase in revenue from taurine shows and a 45% increase in tickets sold to subscribers.
The 61 % increase in the revenues from Taurine shows shows that the public is there, as is the 45 % increase in tickets sold to subscribers.
The city also clarified that a significant portion of the €880,769 spent on the arenas (€385,851) was dedicated to the restoration of the historic monument, limiting direct aid to bullfighting to approximately €77,000 per year. The city argues that this amount is small compared to the budget allocated to other events.
regarding non-quantifiable economic benefits, the city stated that it is difficult to isolate the economic impact of the Feria from overall tourism revenue during the peak tourist season. Though, the city estimates that over a million people attended the Feria last year.
Occitanie Region bullfighting Funding: Your Questions Answered
What is the Occitanie Regional Chamber of accounts investigating?
The Occitanie Regional Chamber of Accounts is examining public funding for bullfighting in the cities of Saint-Gilles (Gard) and Béziers (Hérault). This examination covers the period between 2019 and 2023 and was initiated following a request from the anticorrida Alliance, which has 1,550 members.
What did the report reveal about Saint-Gilles’ subsidies for bullfighting?
The report indicates that Saint-Gilles continues too allocate significant funds to support Spanish-style bullfighting, known as “corrida.” The municipality reportedly subsidized these events with up to €160,000 annually. This covered approximately 82% of “Toro Passion” association’s financial losses.
What is the city of Saint-Gilles’s defense for these subsidies?
Eddy Valadier,the mayor of Saint-Gilles,defended the subsidies by stating that “Culture is generally in deficit” and that the “ecosystem around bullfight creates wealth.” He believes that eliminating these subsidies would raise ticket prices and possibly decrease attendance.
How much did Saint-Gilles and Nîmes Métropole spend on tickets during the review period?
The report stated that the municipality and Nîmes Métropole spent €9,125 on tickets during the period under review. Though, this figure does not include the costs associated with arena maintenance, veterinary services, and a social counter managed by Urssaf du Gard.
What is the Anticorrida Alliance’s position on these subsidies?
Claire Starozinski, president of the Anticorrida Alliance, criticized the continued financial support for bullfighting. She questioned the rationale for sustaining events that operate at a loss,stating that “The bullfight is maintained with public subsidies in all Taurine cities.”
What concerns did the Chamber of Accounts raise about contracts with bullfighters?
The Chamber of Accounts raised concerns about the lack of openness in contracts with bullfighters. The report noted the “singular character of the negotiation of bullfighters and the predominance of an oral culture around the amount of the granted stamps,” suggesting a lack of clear documentation.
How is Béziers involved in funding bullfighting?
Between 2019 and 2024,Béziers provided €519,601 in direct financial support for bullfighting.Additionally, €188,000 was allocated to the Taurine school, UVTF, the Federation of Taurine clubs in Biterrois, and various taurine associations for bullfighting events and direct subsidies.
How many tickets are distributed annually in Béziers, and at what value?
The report estimates that approximately 1,400 bullfight tickets are distributed annually. For the 2023 Feria, 1,000 tickets offered for the four bullfights where valued at approximately €44,960.
How does Béziers defend its support for bullfighting?
the Béziers town hall defends its support by stating that it “defends bullfighting each time it is attacked and weighs with all its weight to enhance it.” The city highlights the increase in revenue from taurine shows (61%) and the rise in tickets sold to subscribers (45%) as evidence of public interest.
What is the city’s argument regarding arena costs?
The city argues that a significant portion of the €880,769 spent on the arenas (€385,851) was dedicated to restoring the historic monument. This limits direct aid to bullfighting to approximately €77,000 per year, an amount the city considers small compared to other event budgets.
What economic benefits does Béziers cite in relation to bullfighting?
The city states that it is arduous to isolate the economic impact of the Feria from overall tourism revenue. Though, they estimate that over a million people attended the Feria last year.
Key Financial Data Summary: Saint-Gilles vs. Béziers
| City | Period | Direct Funding | Additional Funding/Comments |
|—————|—————|———————————–|——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-|
| Saint-Gilles | 2019-2023 | Up to €160,000 annually | Covered approximately 82% of losses of “Toro Passion”. Municipality and Nimes Metropole spent €9,125 on tickets. does not include arena, veterinary, and social counter costs.|
| Béziers | 2019-2024 | €519,601 | €188,000 allocated to Taurine school, UVTF, Federation, and associations. 1,400 tickets distributed annually. Arena restoration (€385,851 of €880,769 spent) limits