Stade de France

Stade de France
Stade de France, purposed for track and field, during the 2024 Summer Olympics.
UEFA
Map
Full nameStade de France
AddressSaint-Denis
France
LocationZAC du Cornillon Nord
Saint-Denis, Île-de-France, France
Coordinates48°55′28″N 2°21′37″E / 48.9245°N 2.3602°E / 48.9245; 2.3602
Public transit
OwnerConsortium Stade de France
OperatorConsortium Stade de France
TypeMultiuse stadium
Executive suites172
Capacity81,338 (football, rugby); 77,083 (athletics)[2]
Field size119 m × 75 m (130 yd × 82 yd)
SurfaceSIS Grass by SIS Pitches
Construction
Broke ground2 May 1995; 29 years ago (1995-05-02)
Built1995–1998
Opened28 January 1998; 26 years ago (1998-01-28)
Construction cost€364 million
ArchitectMichel Macary[1]
Aymeric Zublena[1]
Michel Regembal[1]
Claude Constantini[1]
Tenants
France national football team (1998–present)
France national rugby union team (1998–present)
Stade Français (selected matches)
Racing 92 (selected matches)
Website
stadefrance.com

Stade de France (French pronunciation: [stad fʁɑ̃s], lit.'Stadium of France') is the national stadium of France, located just north of Paris in the commune of Saint-Denis. Its seating capacity of 80,698 makes it the largest stadium in France. The stadium is used by the French national football and rugby union teams for international competitions. It is the largest in Europe for athletics events, seating 77,083 in that configuration. During other events, the stadium's running track is mostly hidden under the grandstands.

Initially built for the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2008 Summer Olympics failed bid the stadium's name was recommended by Michel Platini, head of the organizing committee. On 12 July 1998, France beat Brazil 3–0 in the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final held at the stadium.The Stadium was a key player in the success of the city's bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games and also the Paralympics and in addition to hosting athletics and the closing ceremonies of both events. The stadium was rugby sevens venue during the Olympic Games.

Stade de France, listed as a Category 4 stadium by UEFA, hosted matches at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League finals in 2000, 2006 and 2022. It has as well hosted the 1999, 2007 and 2023 Rugby World Cups, making it one of only two stadia in the world to have hosted both a FIFA World Cup final and a rugby union World Cup final (along with Nissan Stadium in Yokohama). It also hosted seven matches at UEFA Euro 2016, including the final, where France lost to Portugal 1–0 in a tense extra time. The facility also hosted the Race of Champions auto race in 2004, 2005, and 2006. The stadium hosted the 2003 World Championships in Athletics, and from 1999 to 2016, it hosted the annual Meeting Areva athletics meet.

Domestically, Stade de France serves as a secondary home facility of Parisian rugby clubs Stade Français and Racing 92, hosting a few of their regular-season fixtures. The stadium also hosts the main French domestic cup finals, which include the Coupe de France (both football and rugby), Coupe de la Ligue, Challenge de France, and the Coupe Gambardella, as well as the Top 14 rugby union championship match.

  1. ^ a b c d "Zublena Macary Architects". e-Architect. 3 March 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Stade de France". Stadiumdb.com