The Stad de France football stadium is considered the largest in France; it is a national sporting asset and pride. Here, the French football team arranges its most important matches. Rugby competitions are held at the same stadium. This multi-purpose arena is located in Saint-Denis, in the northern suburbs of the French capital. In terms of capacity, this stadium ranks sixth on the European continent: it seats more than 81 thousand spectators.
The history of the world famous stadium
The Stade de France was built in 1998. Its construction was timed to the World Cup. In Paris there is another arena - “Parc des Princes”, but it supposedly accept no more than 50 thousand guests. Therefore, it was decided to build a sports complex that would be able to accommodate 80 or more thousand people.
The construction of the Stade de France (Paris) began in 1995 - three years before the cherished date. It lasted more than 30 months. At the end of January 1998, the arena was inaugurated. At the opening ceremony, journalists, fans, athletes and top officials of France saw that the country received an excellently equipped sports complex, which could also be a concert venue of world significance.
The opening of the Stade de France stadium was accompanied by a friendly match between the national teams of Spain and France. It was during her time that the only legendary goal in the match was scored by Zinedine Zidane. During the 1998 World Cup, nine matches took place in the arena, in addition, a couple of Champions League finals were held here. The 2016 European Football Championship was also held at this stadium.
Arena construction
In the vicinity of Paris, it was extremely difficult to find a place for the construction of the arena, so the Stade de France stadium was decided to be built in the suburbs of the metropolis. It was originally planned to place the complex in Melun Senar, but the organizers of the World Cup received many complaints that it would be too far away. So there was a decision to build a future attraction in the burial place of the French kings - in Saint-Denis.
On the territory of the abandoned gas developments, construction work began on the construction of the stadium. Several French architects became ideologists of the arena design. Their names are known to many. These are Rezhambhal Michelle, Claude Constantine, Michelle Makari and Eimerick Zublen. The design of the complex is influenced by the Roman Colosseum.
Designers did everything in such a way that, if necessary, you can disassemble one of the stands of the stadium. This is necessary when it is necessary to make room for the arrangement of treadmills and athletics sectors. The lower rows of stands in the arena are mobile and easy to clean. At the same time, the stadium will accommodate 70 thousand spectators. The architects also provided a collapsible roof over the stadium, which protects athletes and fans from various weather conditions.
The construction of the stadium cost 285 million euros.
Interesting facts about the stadium
The Stade de France stadium is the only arena on the planet that has hosted the world rugby and football championships.
May 9, 2009 a record of attendance at the complex was recorded. Then there was the final of the French Cup between the teams “Guingamp” and “Rennes”. The game was watched by 80 056 fans.
Despite the fact that the stadium is located in the suburbs of Paris, it is very easy to get to it. Highways and a couple of metro stations are located nearby. Also from the capital there are buses and trains.
The stadium field is located 11 meters below the ground level.
The stadium as a tourist attraction
The Stade de France has already become a landmark, so excursions are regularly arranged here. During a short trip, tourists can visit the President’s box, visit the locker rooms, where world sports stars dress before tournaments. Also, visitors are given the opportunity to walk through the players' tunnel and visit the museum dedicated to the construction of the stadium and famous sports events of the world championships. The whole tour takes about one hour, and then tourists are allowed to walk around the museum for another half hour.
From September 1 to March 31, on all days except Monday, excursion tours to the Stade de France arena are held. Tours are conducted in English, and a ticket will have to pay 15 €. Tourists are not allowed to come on excursions only one day before the upcoming sporting event and the day after it.
If there was no football
Where the Stade de France is located, the reader already knows, but the question remains what is going on at the stadium when there are no football matches. After all, they are arranged here infrequently. So, in the past, motocrosses of the champions race were held in the arena. In 2003, the complex was a venue for the World Athletics Championships.
From time to time, the main Parisian rugby club holds home games in the arena. A variety of shows and concerts are also held at this stadium. Many pop stars performed here, including Madonna, The Rolling Stones, Mylene Farmer, U2 and others.