French UEFA Euro 2016 Stadiums

Buildings listed by capacity

– Stade de France
Saint-Denis
Capacity: 81,338

– Stade Vélodrome
Marseille
Capacity: 67,394

– Parc Olympique Lyonnais
Lyon
(upgraded) Capacity: 59,286

– Stade Pierre-Mauroy
Lille
(new stadium) Capacity: 50,186

– Parc des Princes
Paris
(upgraded) Capacity: 48,712

– Matmut Atlantique
Bordeaux
(upgraded) Capacity: 42,115

– Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
Saint-Étienne
(upgraded) Capacity: 41,965

– Allianz Riviera
Nice
Capacity: 35,624

– Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Lens
(upgraded) Capacity: 38,223

– Stadium Municipal
Toulouse
(upgraded) Capacity: 33,150

Olympique Lyonnais Stadium in Lyon – UEFA Euro 2016 first semi-final venue:

image from architects

French UEFA Euro 2016 Stadium Buildings Guide

Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux

Capacity: 42,000

photo by PA, Own work, courtesy wikimedia commons

Created by the architects behind Munich’s Allianz Arena and Beijing’s ‘Bird Nest’ Olympic stadium, the Stade de Bourdeaux has steep stands, with upper tiers at a 35° angle – the maximum allowed in France.

The 184m euro (£130m) stadium’s stanchions are designed to resemble pine trees in the nearby Landes forest.

Bordeaux had previously played at the Stade Chaban-Delmas – a venue at the 1938 and 1998 World Cups.

photo by PA, Own work, courtesy wikimedia commons

Bordeaux’s Euro 2016 games
Group B – Wales v Slovakia, 11 June (17:00 BST)
Group F – Austria v Hungary, 14 June (17:00 BST)
Group E – Belgium v Rep. Ireland, 18 June (14:00 BST)
Group D – Croatia v Spain, 21 June (20:00 BST)
Quarter-final #3, 2 July (20:00 BST)

Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens

Capacity: 38,000

photo by Liondartois, Own work, courtesy wikimedia commons

The Stade Bollaert-Delelis was originally oval but rectangular stands were added in the 1970s – giving it an English-style look.

The scene of Laurent Blanc’s golden goal for France against Paraguay at the 1998 World Cup, it was also used at Euro ’84, but needed a 70m euro (£50m) upgrade for Euro 2016, and was shut for renovation last season.

Lens’ Euro 2016 games
Group A – Albania v Switzerland, 11 June (14:00 BST)
Group B – England v Wales, 16 June (14:00 BST)
Group D – Czech Republic v Turkey, 21 June (20:00 BST)
Last 16 (1st Grp D v 3rd Grp B, E or F), 25 June (20:00 BST)

Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille

Capacity: 50,000

Named after a former French prime minster and mayor of Lille, the Stade Pierre Mauroy is home to the city’s top-flight club but has also hosted rugby union, basketball and tennis – including the 2014 Davis Cup final.

A clever design feature allows the northern half of the pitch to be raised several metres in the air and slid directly over the southern half.

That reveals a compact ‘showcase’ level with room for temporary seating – ideal for focusing attention on a smaller area such as tennis court or musical stage. The unused half of the stadium is then curtained off to create a better atmosphere.

The stadium’s roof can open or close in 30 minutes, is 31 metres high and was built using 7,400 tonnes of steel.

Lille’s Euro 2016 games
Group C – Germany v Ukraine, 12 June (20:00 BST)
Group B – Russia v Slovakia, 15 June (14:00 BST)
Group A – Switzerland v France, 19 June (20:00 BST)
Group E – Italy v Rep. Ireland, 22 June (20:00 BST)
Last 16 (1st Grp C v 3rd Grp A, B or F), 26 June (17:00 BST)
Quarter-final #2, 1 July (20:00 BST)

Stade de Lyon, Lyon

Capacity: 59,000

Olympique Lyonnais Stadium in Lyon – UEFA Euro 2016 first semi-final venue:

image from architects

A site was chosen for Lyon’s new home in 2007 but legal action from opponents of construction meant building on the Stade de Lyon only began in earnest in 2013. The venue opened on 9 January, when Lyon beat Troyes 4-1.

The stadium is the centrepiece of a 50-hectare complex which includes a new training ground and hotels. Its most distinctive feature is its roof, which overhangs the stadium like a giant umbrella, providing shelter to fans immediately outside.

It is the first major stadium privately owned by a French football club – the rest rent. Inspired by Arsenal’s financial success at Emirates Stadium, Lyon expect the 405m euro (£294m) cost of their home to be returned via higher match-day revenue.

Lyon’s Euro 2016 games
Group E – Belgium v Italy, 13 June (20:00 BST)
Group C – Ukraine v Northern Ireland, 16 June (17:00 BST)
Group A – Romania v Albania, 19 June (20:00 BST)
Group F – Hungary v Portugal, 22 June (17:00 BST)
Last 16 (1st Grp A v 3rd Grp C, D or E), 26 June (14:00 BST)
Semi-final #1, 6 July (20:00 BST)

Stade Velodrome, Marseille

Capacity: 67,000

photo by Om13008 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26384753

Built for the 1938 World Cup, Marseille’s Stade Velodrome originally featured a cycling track, which was removed in 1985. Capacity was expanded to 67,000 for the 1998 World Cup by adopting distinctive round stands – three of which were uncovered, exposing supporters to the powerful mistral winds that blow in off the Mediterranean.

The new Velodrome’s undulating roof solves that problem while retaining the stadium’s unique look. The end result is impressive – but costly.

As the club did not contribute to the 267m euro (£193m) project, the heavily indebted city council requested a five-fold increase on Marseille’s 1.5m euro annual rent. A compromise was eventually agreed in 2014.

Stade Vélodrome Euro 2016 stadium in Marseille:

photo by Guiguilacagouille, Own work

Marseille’s Euro 2016 games
Group B – England v Russia, 11 June (20:00 BST)
Group A – France v Albania, 15 June (20:00 BST)
Group F – Iceland v Hungary, 18 June (17:00 BST)
Group C – Ukraine v Poland, 21 June (17:00 BST)
Quarter-final #1, 30 June (20:00 BST)
Semi-final #2, 7 July (20:00 BST)

Stade de Nice, Nice

Capacity: 36,000

Nice had been looking for a replacement for their antiquated stadium – the Stade du Ray – since the turn of the century. Plans for a new ground were abandoned in 2002 and 2006 but Euro 2016 gave the project impetus, and work began in 2011.

Located to the west of Nice, three miles from the city’s airport, the Stade de Nice is a multi-event arena designed to host rugby, tennis, motorsport and concerts as well as football. The stadium also hosts France’s national museum of sport.

Usually known as the Allianz Riviera for sponsorship reasons, during Euro 2016 it will instead simply be the Stade de Nice.

Nice’s Euro 2016 games
Group C – Poland v Northern Ireland, 12 June (17:00 BST)
Group D – Spain v Turkey, 17 June (20:00 BST)
Group E – Sweden v Belgium, 22 June (20:00 BST)
Last 16 (2nd Grp B v 2nd Grp F), 27 June (20:00 BST)

Parc des Princes, Paris

Capacity: 48,000

photo by Janick Sallé, Own work, courtesy wikimedia commons

At 48,000 seats, the Parc des Princes may be smaller than the other Euro 2016 venue in the French capital, the Stade de France, but it boasts more history. It staged the first European Cup final in 1956 – won by Real Madrid – and France’s win against Spain in the Euro ’84 final.

Constructed in 1897, it was completely rebuilt in 1932 and again in 1972 – when the cycling track was removed and the stadium redesigned around an underground ring-road. Recently formed Paris St-Germain became tenants in 1974.

PSG’s Qatari owners bankrolled a 75m euro (£54m) facelift prior to Euro 2016 and the club want further expansion to seat 60,000 fans – but the proximity of the ring-road may prove problematic.

Parc des Princes’ Euro 2016 games
Group D – Turkey v Croatia, 12 June (14:00 BST)
Group A – Romania v Switzerland, 15 June (17:00 BST)
Group F – Portugal v Austria, 18 June (20:00 BST)
Group C – Northern Ireland v Germany, 21 June (17:00 BST)
Last 16 (1st Grp B v 3rd Grp A, C or D), 25 June (17:00 BST)

Stade de France, Paris

Capacity: 81,338

photo by bigup21, CC BY 3.0, http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47811241

The Stade de France was the only new stadium built for the 1998 World Cup, at which it hosted nine games – including France’s 3-0 victory over Brazil in the final.

It took over from the Parc des Princes as the home of France’s national football and rugby union sides and has a distinctive elliptical roof, which appears to float above the stadium – despite weighing more than the Eiffel Tower.

It was the venue for November’s friendly international between France and Germany, when three suicide bombers detonated devices outside the stadium.

French sports minister Patrick Kanner praised stadium officials for their calm response to the explosions. Nonetheless, security will be enhanced at the Stade de France and all other Euro 2016 venues as a result of the Paris attacks.

Stade de France’s Euro 2016 games
Group A – France v Romania, 10 June (20:00 BST)
Group E – Rep. of Ireland v Sweden 13 June (17:00 BST)
Group C – Germany v Poland, 16 June (20:00 BST)
Group F – Iceland v Austria, 22 June (17:00 BST)
Last 16 (1st Grp E v 2nd Grp D), 27 June (17:00 BST)
Quarter-final #4, 3 July (20:00 BST)
Final, 10 July (20:00 BST)

Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne

Saint-Etienne’s Stade Geoffroy Guichard was initially selected only as a reserve venue (along with Toulouse) for Euro 2016 before organisers decided that both were needed to cope with the tournament’s expanded format.

Capacity has increased from 35,600 to 42,000, with seats installed in the four corners, although three of those sections are single-tiered.

Welcome to Green Hell

Saint-Etienne fans are renowned for the atmosphere generated at their home – which has been dubbed “Le Chaudron” (The Cauldron) and “L’enfer Vert” (Green Hell).

The stadium is named after the businessman who purchased the site. It hosted matches at Euro ’84 and the 1998 World Cup – where it staged England’s last-16 exit to Argentina.

Saint-Etienne’s Euro 2016 games
Group F – Portugal v Iceland, 14 June (20:00 BST)
Group D – Czech Republic v Croatia, 17 June (17:00 BST)
Group B – Slovakia v England, 20 June (20:00 BST)
Last 16 (2nd Grp A v 2nd Grp C), 25 June (14:00 BST)

Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse

Toulouse is France’s fourth biggest city but lies in the country’s rugby heartland. The city’s football side won their only honour – the French Cup – in 1957, but the rugby club boast 19 domestic championships and four European titles, both record hauls.

Mini-Wembley

Built on an island in the river Garonne, the Stadium de Toulouse – sometimes referred to as the Stade Municipal – was built for the 1938 World Cup, and was initially described as “mini-Wembley” because of its resemblance to the London venue.

It was not used at Euro ’84 but was revamped for France ’98, hosting six games – including England’s loss to Romania.

Capacity was cut by 2,000 prior to Euro 2016 in order to meet Uefa requirements for wider seats.

Toulouse’s Euro 2016 games
Group D – Spain v Czech Republic, 13 June (14:00 BST)
Group E – Italy v Sweden, 17 June (14:00 BST)
Group B – Russia v Wales, 20 June (20:00 BST)
Last 16 (1st Group F, 2nd Group E), 26 June (20:00 BST)

Source: BBC

Website: French UEFA Euro 2016 Stadiums: Buildings Guide – BBC

Website: UEFA Euro 2016 Stadiums Guide – stadiumguide.com

Website: France Euro 2016 Stadiums Buildings Guide – wikipedia

Football Stadium Buildings

Another French stadium building on e-architect:

Jules Ladoumègue Stadium, Paris, France
Design: DFA, Dietmar Feichtinger Architectes

photograph © David Boureau
Jules Ladoumègue Stadium in Paris

Football Stadium Buildings

Léo Lagrange Stadium in Toulon
Design: archi5 studio

photo : Sergio Grazia
Léo Lagrange Stadium in Toulon