Stade de France
| Company type | National stadium |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports venue |
| Founded | May 2, 1995 in Saint-Denis, Paris, France |
| Headquarters | Saint-Denis , France |
Area served | France, International sports events |
| Products | Football, rugby union, athletics events venue |
| Website | www |
Stade de France (, ) stands as France's premier national stadium, situated to the north of Paris in Saint-Denis. Boasting a seating capacity of 80,698, it holds the distinction of being the largest stadium in the country. Its architectural concept was influenced by Pan Am’s Worldport terminal at New York’s JFK Airport. The venue regularly hosts international fixtures for the French national football and rugby union squads and can accommodate up to 77,083 spectators for athletics events, with the running track often hidden beneath the stands during other occasions.
Built specifically for the 1998 FIFA World Cup and following France’s unsuccessful attempt to secure the 2008 Summer Olympics, the stadium received its name based on Michel Platini’s suggestion. It gained prominence by hosting the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final, where France triumphed over Brazil with a 3–0 scoreline. Stade de France was instrumental in Paris winning the bid for the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, serving as the venue for athletics competitions, closing ceremonies, and rugby sevens during the Olympics.
Recognized as a UEFA Category 4 stadium, Stade de France has been the site of major events such as matches during the 1998 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals in 2000, 2006, and 2022, and Rugby World Cups in 1999, 2007, and 2023—making it one of only two stadiums worldwide to have hosted both FIFA and Rugby World Cup finals (the other being Nissan Stadium in Yokohama). It also held seven games during UEFA Euro 2016, including the final where France was defeated by Portugal. Other notable events include hosting the Race of Champions (2004–2006), the 2003 World Championships in Athletics, and the annual Meeting Areva athletics meeting from 1999 to 2016.
Within France, Stade de France acts as an occasional home ground for Paris-based rugby clubs Stade Français and Racing 92 for select matches. Moreover, it is a regular venue for major French cup finals such as the Coupe de France (both football and rugby), Coupe de la Ligue, Challenge de France, Coupe Gambardella, as well as the Top 14 rugby final.
History
The initiative to establish a new national stadium in France arose during preparations for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, addressing a significant shortcoming identified during Paris’s bid for the 1992 Summer Olympics. The French government alongside the French Football Federation pledged to construct a covered stadium with all seats and a capacity exceeding 80,000 to serve as the centerpiece for the event. This decision marked a shift from France’s previous approach of not building new sports-specific venues since Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir. The Council of State played a role in determining the stadium’s location near Paris and guaranteed financial support for both construction and operation for a period of 30 months after completion. The architectural design was led by Michel Macary, Aymeric Zublena, Michel Regembal, and Claude Constantini from CR SCAU Architecture.
Following selection of contractors Bouygues, Dumez, and SGE, construction commenced after permits were granted on 30 April 1995. With a tight timeline of just 31 months, building began on 2 May 1995; the first cornerstone was placed on 6 September. The project involved moving over 800,000 m² of earth and utilizing approximately 180,000 m³ of concrete. The €45 million roof installation included a mobile platform that required more than a year to complete.
Initially referred to as Grand Stade ("large stadium"), an official naming contest organized by the Ministry of Sport on 4 December 1995 resulted in adopting Stade de France—a name suggested by football icon Michel Platini. The overall expenditure amounted to €364 million.
The stadium officially opened on 28 January 1998 with an international friendly between France and Spain attended by President Jacques Chirac before an audience of 78,368. Zinedine Zidane scored the first goal ever at Stade de France. Six months later, it hosted the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final, where France secured their inaugural title against Brazil. Throughout that tournament, multiple key matches took place at this venue. The French national rugby team debuted here on 2 February 1998 with a victory over England witnessed by 77,567 fans.
On 24 May 2000, Stade de France was home to the 2000 UEFA Champions League Final, where Real Madrid defeated Valencia with a scoreline of 3–0 before an audience of 78,759. It also served as the main site for the 2003 World Championships in Athletics. In club football competitions, it saw Barcelona overcome Arsenal in 2006 and set a national attendance record of 80,832 during the 2009 Coupe de France Final when Guingamp upset Rennes. Additionally, it hosted the 2010 Heineken Cup Final in rugby union. A Six Nations rugby fixture scheduled for February 2012 was canceled due to frozen pitch conditions—highlighting infrastructure challenges such as absence of under-soil heating.
On 13 November 2015, Stade de France became one target among several during coordinated terrorist attacks across Paris. Two explosions occurred outside while an international friendly between France and Germany took place inside with President François Hollande present. Security protocols successfully prevented attackers from entering; authorities chose to continue the match to avoid mass panic. Since then, security measures have been significantly strengthened alongside enhanced counter-terrorism training.
During UEFA Euro 2016, Stade de France functioned as the central stadium hosting seven matches including the opening ceremony featuring performances by DJ David Guetta and singer Zara Larsson performing "This One's for You," the tournament’s official anthem. The stadium also accommodated six additional matches throughout Euro 2016 including its final between France and Portugal. Portugal claimed their first major international title with a 1–0 extra-time win followed by a closing ceremony also headlined by Guetta.
In hosting its third 2022 UEFA Champions League Final between Liverpool F.C. and Real Madrid CF, Stade de France experienced delays caused by difficulties with fan entry; an independent UEFA investigation dismissed allegations that late-arriving supporters were responsible for these delays. Instead, it attributed issues to organizational flaws within UEFA’s event framework and policing tactics that inaccurately portrayed Liverpool fans as posing public order threats.
Architecture
The Stade de France incorporates a retractable seating system that reveals a portion of the athletics track. Its design process utilized crowd simulation technology to enhance both seating capacity and sightline quality. Positioned within the Plaine Saint-Denis district, which extends across Saint-Denis, Aubervilliers, and Saint-Ouen, the stadium was intended to act as a catalyst for local urban renewal, encouraging new housing and commercial developments.
A notable feature is the absence of undersoil heating, which resulted in the cancellation of a 2012 Six Nations rugby fixture between Ireland and France.
In recognition of its innovative and refined open architectural concept, the stadium received an accolade from the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) in 2002.
Roof
The elliptical roof, costing €45 million, spans six hectares and weighs approximately 13,000 tons. It was engineered to cover up to 80,000 spectators while ensuring the playing surface remains free from shade. The roof houses 550 integrated lights and 36 speaker clusters designed to provide clear views without obstruction. A central section of tinted glass reduces glare by filtering out red and infrared wavelengths but permits blue and green light necessary for maintaining healthy turf.
Stands
As the largest modular stadium globally, Stade de France features a three-level seating arrangement. The lowest tier contains 25,000 seats on level one, with a partially retractable configuration that exposes athletic facilities by lowering rear segments by 7.1 meters and sliding inner sections back by 15 meters on ten massive elements each weighing 700 tons. This transformation decreases capacity to 22,000 seats and involves a team of 40 staff working over an 80-hour period.
The middle tier on level three is accessible via 22 bridges and accommodates dining establishments, entertainment spaces, retail shops, and centralized security operations. The uppermost tier on level six can be reached through eighteen staircases.
Evacuation protocols generally commence fifteen minutes prior to event conclusion, with total exit times varying depending on crowd size and other factors.
Field
The playing field lies 11 meters beneath court level and measures 120 by 75 meters (9,000 square meters) within a larger grassed area totaling 11,000 square meters. The original turf installation in 1997 involved planting nearly one billion grass seeds. Currently, grass is delivered in rolls sized 1.20 by 8 meters. Pitch replacement demands three days of preparation followed by five days of installation and occurs multiple times annually according to scheduling needs. Unlike many venues, Stade de France was constructed without heating beneath the pitch due to safety concerns related to its location on a former gasworks site.
Giant screens
As part of modernization efforts, two new giant screens were installed at Stade de France in September 2006. These screens are 58% larger than those originally installed in 1998 and each contains 4,423,680 LEDs, providing enhanced brightness and faster response times.
Major sports matches
Stade de France has been the venue for numerous prominent sporting events such as games during the 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, the 2007 Rugby World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016, and the 2023 Rugby World Cup. It was also chosen for the MLB World Tour scheduled for 2025 before its cancellation. Additionally, it hosted the final of the 2022 UEFA Champions League after relocation from Russia due to geopolitical circumstances.
UEFA Champions League Finals
| Date | Time (CET) | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 May 2000 | 20:45 | Template:Fbaicon Real Madrid | 3–0 | Template:Fbaicon Valencia | 80,000 |
| 17 May 2006 | 20:45 | Template:Fbaicon Barcelona | 2–1 | Template:Fbaicon Arsenal | 79,610 |
| 28 May 2022 | 21:36 | Template:Fbaicon Real Madrid | 1–0 | Template:Fbaicon Liverpool | 75,000 |
1998 FIFA World Cup Matches
| Date | Time (CET) | Team 1 | Result | Team 2 | Stage | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 June 1998 | 17:30 | Template:Fb | 2–1 | Template:Fb | Group A (tournament opener) | 80,000 |
| 13 June 1998 | 21:00 | Template:Fb | 0–0 | Template:Fb | Group E | 75,000 |
| 18 June 1998 | 21:00 | Template:Fb | 4–0 | Template:Fb | Group C | 80,000 |
| 23 June 1998 | 16:00 | Template:Fb | 2–1 | Template:Fb | Group B | 80,000 |
| 26 June 1998 | 21:00 | Template:Fb | 1–1 | Template:Fb | Group G | 77,000 |
| 28 June 1998 | 21:00 | Template:Fb | 1–4 | Template:Fb | Round of 16 | 77,000 |
| 3 July 1998 | 16:30 | Template:Fb | 0–0 (3–4 pen.) | Template:Fb | Quarter-final | 77,000 |
| 8 July 1998 | 21:00 | Template:Fb | 2–1 | Template:Fb | Semi-final | 76,000 |
| 12 July 1998 | 21:00 | Template:Fb | 0–3 | Template:Fb | Final | 80,000 |
2003 FIFA Confederations Cup Matches
| Date | Time (CET) | Team 1 | Result | Team 2 | Stage | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 June 2003 | 18:00 | Template:Fb | 0–3 | Template:Fb | Group A (opening match) | 36,038 |
| 19 June 2003 | 21:00 | Template:Fb | 0–1 | Template:Fb | Group B | 46,719 |
| 21 June 2003 | 19:00 | Template:Fb | 1–0 | Template:Fb | Group B | 43,743 |
| 22 June 2003 | 21:00 | Template:Fb | 5–0 | Template:Fb | Group A | 36,842 |
| 26 June 2003 | 21:00 | Template:Fb | 3–2 | Template:Fb | Semi-final | 41,195 |
| 29 June 2003 | 21:00 | Template:Fb | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Template:Fb | Final | 51,985 |
2007 Rugby World Cup Matches
- 20 October 2007 ||21:00 || ||15–6 || || Final ||80,430 }UEFA Euro 2016 fixtures
| Date | Time (CET) | Team 1 | Result | Team 2 | Stage | Attendance
- 7 September 2007 ||21:00 || ||12–17 || || Pool D (opening match) ||77,523 - 14 September 2007 ||21:00 || ||0–36 || || Pool A ||79,312 - 21 September 2007 ||21:00 || ||25–3 || || Pool D ||80,267 - 7 October 2007 ||21:00 || ||19–13 || || Quarter-final ||76,866 - 13 October 2007 ||21:00 || ||14–9 || || Semi-final ||80,283 - 14 October 2007 ||21:00 || ||37–13 || || Semi-final ||77,055 |
|---|
| Date | Time (CET) | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Stage | Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 June 2016 | 21:00 | Template:Fb | 2–1 | Template:Fb | Group A (tournament opener) | 75,113 |
| 13 June 2016 | 18:00 | Template:Fb | 1–1 | Template:Fb | Group E | 73,419 |
| 16 June 2016 | 21:00 | Template:Fb | 0–0 | Template:Fb | Group C | 73,648 |
| 22 June 2016 | 18:00 | Template:Fb | 2–1 | Template:Fb | Group F | 68,714 |
| 27 June 2016 | 18:00 | Template:Fb | 2–0 | Template:Fb | Round of 16 | 76,165 |
| 3 July 2016 | 21:00 | Template:Fb | 5–2 | Template:Fb | Quarter-final | 76,833 |
| 10 July 2016 | 21:00 | Template:Fb | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Template:Fb | Final | 75,868 |
2023 Rugby World Cup fixtures
| Date | Home Team | Score | Visiting Team | Stage | Crowd Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 September 2023 | Template:Ru | 27–13 | Template:Ru | Pool A (opening match) | 78,680 |
| 9 September 2023 | Template:Ru | 35–15 | Template:Ru | Pool C | 75,770 |
| 23 September 2023 | Template:Ru | 8–13 | Template:Ru | Pool B | 78,542 |
| 7 October 2023 | Template:Ru | 36–14 | Template:Ru | Pool B | 78,459 |
| 14 October 2023 | Template:Ru | 24–28 | Template:Ru | Quarter-final | 78,845 |
| 15 October 2023 | Template:Ru | 28–29 | Template:Ru | Quarter-final | 79,486 |
| 20 October 2023 | Template:Ru | 6–44 | Template:Ru | Semi-final | 77,653 |
| 21 October 2023 | Template:Ru | 15–16 | Template:Ru | Semi-final | 78,098 |
| 27 October 2023 | Template:Ru | 23–26 | Template:Ru | Bronze final | 77,674 |
| 28 October 2023 | Template:Ru | 11–12 | Template:Ru | Final | 80,065 |
Concerts
This venue has been the site of numerous significant musical performances by internationally renowned artists including The Rolling Stones, Beyoncé, Coldplay, Depeche Mode, Muse, Metallica, Prince, U2, Rihanna, AC/DC, Justin Timberlake, Céline Dion, Tina Turner, Jay-Z, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eminem, Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, Madonna, and BTS.
| Date | Artist(s) | Tour/Event | Supporting Act(s) | Attendance | Box Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "25 July 1998" | "The Rolling Stones" | "Bridges to Babylon Tour" | "Jean-Louis Aubert" | "76,716" | " $4,406,313" | "First-ever concert held at the stadium" |
| "5-11 September 1998" | "Johnny Hallyday" | "Johnny Allume Le Feu" | "—" | "210,000 (cumulative)" | "—" | |
| "19-20 June 1999" | "Céline Dion" | "Let's Talk About Love World Tour" | "Dany Brillant" | "180,102 (cumulative)" | " $10,393,539" | "Shows recorded for live album and concert film" |
| "9-10 July 2005" | "U2" | "Vertigo Tour" | "Starsailor, Snow Patrol, The Music" | "160,349 (cumulative)" | " $11,822,645" | "—" |
| "22 June-18 July 2007" | "George Michael", "The Rolling Stones", "The Police" | "25 Live", "A Bigger Bang", "Reunion Tour" | "Starsailor", "Fiction Plane", "Razorlight", "Stereophonics" | "~157,000+" | "Over $15M" | "Major tours with notable attendance and revenue" |
| "20-21 September 2008" | "Madonna" | "Sticky & Sweet Tour" | "Bob Sinclar" | "138,163 (cumulative)" | " $17,583,211" | "International tour with high earnings" |
| "11-12 July 2009" | "U2" | "U2 360° Tour" | "Kaiser Chiefs" | "186,544 (cumulative)" | " $20,902,760" | "Concerts documented for live releases" |
| "15-18 July 2017" | "Coldplay" | "A Head Full of Dreams Tour" | "Tove Lo, Lyves" | "235,611 (cumulative)" | " $19,884,200" | "Set venue records for attendance and ticket sales" |
| "12-13 September 2014" | "Beyoncé and Jay-Z" | "On the Run Tour" | "—" | "147,012 (cumulative)" | " $13,631,722" | "Broadcast by HBO; featured Nicki Minaj" |
| "7-9 July 2022" | "Red Hot Chili Peppers" | "2022 Global Stadium Tour" | "Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals; Thundercat" | "136,512 (cumulative)"
"|$12,851,604"|— | ||
| Coldplay |Music of the Spheres World Tour |H.E.R., Gaumar |318,331 (cumulative) |$28,035,164 |Holds multiple venue records including highest attendance| | ||||||
| Beyoncé |Cowboy Carter Tour |— |215,025 (cumulative) |$39,715,117 |Top-grossing and most attended female artist at this site; first international female artist to perform three shows on a single tour| |
Noise records
On 12 May 2012, the French heavy metal group Gojira served as the opening act for Metallica during their European Black Album Tour at the stadium. The sound levels backstage for Gojira reached 120 decibels, marking the highest recorded volume at Stade de France.
On 11 April 2015, the crowd noise generated by 80,000 spectators at the 2015 Coupe de la Ligue Final peaked at 109 decibels, setting a global benchmark for the loudest atmosphere in a stadium during a football final.
Tenants
The primary occupants of Stade de France are the France national football team and France national rugby union team. Efforts to secure professional club tenants have been unsuccessful; notably, Paris Saint-Germain F.C. opted to stay at Parc des Princes, influenced by its then-owner Canal Plus and local Paris authorities.
Since 2005, the Paris rugby club Stade Français has become an occasional tenant. Their first Top 14 home game at Stade de France attracted 79,454 fans, surpassing previous French attendance records for league matches. Later fixtures consistently set new attendance milestones, with as many as five home games hosted there during the 2009–10 season.
Although no permanent club resides there, Stade de France experienced a revenue boost in 2007 by hosting multiple Rugby World Cup matches, including quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final.
During the 2005–06 season, Lille OSC held all their European home fixtures at Stade de France due to renovations at their own stadium and lack of nearby alternatives.
Stade de France has been the venue for the UEFA Champions League final on three occasions: in 2000 (Real Madrid defeating Valencia 3–0), in 2006 (Barcelona triumphing over Arsenal 2–1), and in 2022 (Real Madrid edging Liverpool 1–0).
Planned developments and the 2024 Summer Olympics
In November 2010, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) declared it would not renew its contract with Stade de France beyond 2013, intending instead to construct a new stadium within the Paris metropolitan area. The FFR expressed financial dissatisfaction, noting rental fees between €3 million and €5 million per match constrained revenue opportunities compared to England's Twickenham Stadium. Furthermore, rugby did not hold scheduling precedence at Stade de France, often yielding to football events and concerts, leading to fixture relocations and conflicts.
By June 2012, the FFR had chosen a location in Évry, south of Paris, for an 82,000-seat Grand Stade FFR featuring a retractable roof and a sliding pitch. Initially projected to cost €600 million with an opening planned for 2017, delays pushed the timeline to 2021/2022 before the project was officially canceled in December 2016.
Access
Situated at the intersection of highways A1 and A86, vehicle access to Stade de France is constrained due to limited parking availability; therefore, public transportation remains the primary means of reaching the stadium. Additionally, river shuttles operate along the Canal Saint-Denis.
In connection with the Grand Paris Express project and preparations for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a new metro station is under construction. This station will be connected by a bridge to Stade de France–Saint-Denis station. It will initially serve Line 14 during the Games and eventually accommodate four Métro lines.
| Station | Line |
|---|---|
| La Plaine – Stade de France (500 m) | RER B and RATP buses 139, 153, 173, 239, 253 |
| Stade de France – Saint-Denis (1.1 km) | RER D |
| Saint-Denis – Porte de Paris (300 m) | Paris Métro Line 13, Tramway Line 8, RATP buses 153, 154, 168, 170, 239, 253, 254, 255, 256, 268 |
| Front Populaire (2 km) | Paris Métro Line 12 |
| Saint-Denis – Pleyel (1.5 km) | Paris Métro Line 14 |
| Delaunay-Rimet | RATP buses 239, 253 |
See also
- List of tourist destinations in Paris
- List of football arenas in France
- List of national sports stadiums
- List of rugby union venues by seating capacity
- Stadiums lists