The Stade Pierre-Mauroy, also known as the Decathlon Arena – Stade Pierre-Mauroy[1] for sponsorship reasons, is a multi-use retractable roof stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq (Métropole Européenne de Lille) in Northern France, that opened in August 2012. With a seating capacity of 50,186, it is the fourth-largest sports stadium in France and the home of French professional football club Lille.
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| Former names | Grand Stade Lille Métropole (2012–2013) |
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| Location | 261 boulevard de Tournai, 59650 Villeneuve-d'Ascq, Nord, France |
| Coordinates | 50°36′43″N 3°07′49″E / 50.6119°N 3.1304°E |
| Owner | Eiffage Lille Stadium Arena (until 2043) Métropole Européenne de Lille (from 2043) |
| Capacity | 50,186 |
| Record attendance | 49,712 (Lille vs Paris SG, 14 April 2019) |
| Surface | AirFibr hybrid grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 2009 |
| Built | 2012 |
| Opened | 17 August 2012 |
| Construction cost | €324 million |
| Architect | Valode & Pistre Pierre Ferret |
| Tenants | |
| Lille (2012–present) France national football team (selected matches) France national rugby union team (selected matches)
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| Website | |
| Official Website | |
Initially named Grand Stade Lille Métropole, the stadium was renamed on 21 June 2013, just after the death of the former Mayor of Lille and former Prime Minister of France Pierre Mauroy (1928–2013).[2] The stadium, which hosted UEFA Euro 2016 or 2023 Rugby World Cup, can also be turned into an adjustable arena being expandable to 30,000 seats where indoor sports games and concerts took place. Therefore, multiple Davis Cup events, EuroBasket 2015 and 2024 Summer Olympics basketball and handball tournaments matches were held in the building.
History
editBefore the Grand Stade
editIn 1975, Lille began playing at the Stade Grimonprez-Jooris, a 21,128-seat facility. When the club began to play European Competitions, the venue did not match UEFA standards, prompting the club to play its UEFA Champions League games at the Stade Félix-Bollaert, home of rival RC Lens, in 2001. Plans were soon made to build a new stadium which would match UEFA demands, but the project was postponed and finally cancelled due to struggle with preservationists who stated that the location chosen for the new stadium was too close to the 17th-century Citadel.
The club, left without a place to play, moved to the Stadium Nord which was smaller than Grimonprez-Jooris (18,154 seats) and did not fulfill UEFA demands. This situation forced the team, who had qualified for 2005–06 UEFA Champions League, to play at the Stade de France for its European matches. This solution was abandoned after two young LOSC fans lost their lives when they got hit by an incoming train after a game against Olympique Lyonnais.
New administration, new project
editWhile LOSC was struggling with its stadium problems, the administrative landscape of the Lille area changed. The city was now included in a vast association with its enclosed neighbours, forming the Urban Community of Lille Métropole. The new administration, now in charge of the whole area, decided to launch a new stadium project. On 5 December 2006, an industrial bid for a 50,000-seat multi-purpose stadium, able to receive sport competitions, cultural shows and hold seminars, was launched.
The following January, three worldwide construction companies answered the call, each one with ambitious projects:
- Eiffage: a 50,000-seat capacity multi-purpose stadium, Meeting HQE standards with a retractable roof. The stadium has also a particularity: it can become a fully functional arena of 30,000 seats in only one hour: the Boite à spectacle.
- Bouygues: The project proposed by the company was highly effective in energy saving. The structure was geothermic and most of its power was produced by Renewable energy. The stadium would have a 50,127-seat capacity.
- Vinci: The project proposed by Vinci was the largest of the competition with a 50,921-seat capacity and a retractable roof. It would have been powered by 8000 m2 of Solar panels
In February 2008, Eiffage was selected during a general meeting to build the stadium. The contract was officially signed between the two parties on October of the same year. Eiffage was given 45 months to complete the project
Stadium construction
edit
On 10 July 2009, Eiffage received the building permit and authorisation to start preparatory works for the construction at the Borne de l'Espoir location in Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In December 2009, the final two cities of the Lille Métropole who had yet to sign the building permit joined the project and gave their authorisation. In February 2010, France officially became a candidate to organize the UEFA Euro 2016. The Grand Stade become the symbol of the candidature, boosting its public support.[3] In March 2010, construction of access infrastructure (Subway, Highway, parking lots) began followed one week after by the beginning of the construction of the arena itself. On 28 May 2010, France was officially chosen to organize the Euro 2016. Martine Aubry, who succeeded Pierre Mauroy at the head of LCMU and a big supporter of LOSC and the Grand Stade, expressed her wish to see the Grand Stade given a prominent amount of competition for the upcoming competition.[4] Construction accelerated, with the first brick laid by the Eiffage CEO in September 2010. In 2011, the structure supporting the roof was put in place and constructions of the northern stand was completed by the end of that year. In 2012, the retractable roof, constructed in one piece, was successfully put in place in one day. Despite some legal delays, the stadium was delivered on schedule during the summer of 2012, in time for the 2012–13 LOSC season.
Structure, facilities and uses
editCost and financing
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The total cost of the Eiffage project was €618 million, including €282 million for the stadium, €42 million for additional development such as parking, hotels, and restaurants, and €96 million to ensure seismic standards were met. This latter requirement was introduced in 2011, following a new law passed in the wake of the massive Japan earthquake and tsunami. The cost was spread between the city of Lille (€24.7 million annually for 31 years), the LOSC (€7.5 million annually) and the Nord-Pas-de-Calais regional council (€45 million).
The cost of the project spurred considerable controversy. On one hand, Martine Aubry and her First Deputy Pierre de Saintignon, in charge of the project, highlighted the Grand Stade as "a splendid ambassador of the technologies of our region, and a great tool of attractivity". On the other hand, opponents pointed to a lack of long term viability, since part of the public investments were bound to sporting events, whose results are of random nature. This could lead to some new kind of toxic loans.[5]
Multiple floor features
edit
Stade Pierre-Mauroy has two floors or main levels. The full stadium level or Grand Stade reaches a height of 31 m (101 feet) and has a total capacity of 50,186 seats including 4,965 business seats, 1,842 luxury-box seats, 448 protocol seats and 326 reserved for the press.[6]
The stadium has also a peculiarity: half of the Grand Stade field is situated on hydraulics lift and massive tracks that raise and slide it above the other half of the field in three hours. This creates a second lower-level floor plan and surrounding seats called Boîte à Spectacles, where basketball, tennis or music shows can take place. The Boîte à Spectacles can be configured to have a variable capacity, from 6,900 to 30,000 seats.
In addition, Stade Pierre-Mauroy has a retractable roof which opens and shuts in 15 minutes. The stadium is also recognised as a HQE Building with solar panels and two windmills to provide as electrical supply. The stadium is fully accessible by metro stations and road and includes 7,000 parking spaces.[7][8]
Tenants and sports uses
editThe Grand Stade received a five-star UEFA ranking. It is expected to significantly increase the revenue streams of Lille, its tenant club.
The stadium hosted France national football team and France national rugby union team as well as some games of UEFA Euro 2016 and many Top 14 matches.[6][9][10] The stadium hosted its first rugby union test match on 17 November 2012 during the 2012 Autumn Internationals, when France defeated Argentina 39–22.[11] It was one of the nine venues selected for France's hosting of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[9] The 30,000-seat arena hosted EuroBasket 2015, Davis Cup, 2017 World Men's Handball Championship and hosted handball and basketball tournaments at the 2024 Olympic Games.[12][13][14][15]
The record attendance for a sports game stands at 49,712 spectators, who witnessed Lille's 5–1 win over PSG in 2019.[16]
Due to the upgrade works at the Stade de France for the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, the 2024 Coupe de France final was relocated to the stadium. This marked the first time in the history of the competition that a final has been contested outside Paris (or its near suburbs).[17][18]
EuroBasket 2015 matches
edit
The knock-out phase of EuroBasket 2015 was held at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy from 12 to 20 September 2015, including the Final. The indoor configuration of the stadium has a capacity of 27,000.[12]
| Date | Time (CET) | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 September 2015 | 12:00 |  Latvia |
73–66 |  Slovenia |
Round of 16 | 10,023 |
| 14:30 |  Greece |
75–54 |  Belgium |
13,672 | ||
| 18:30 |  Spain |
80–66 |  Poland |
21,302 | ||
| 21:00 |  France |
76–53 |  Turkey |
26,135 | ||
| 13 September 2015 | 12:00 |  Croatia |
59–80 |  Czech Republic |
12,070 | |
| 14:30 |  Serbia |
94–81 |  Finland |
12,128 | ||
| 18:30 |  Israel |
52–82 |  Italy |
14,742 | ||
| 21:00 |  Lithuania |
85–81 |  Georgia |
16,953 | ||
| 15 September 2015 | 18:30 | Spain |
73–71 | Greece |
Quarter-finals | 17,864 |
| 21:00 | France |
84–70 | Latvia |
22,076 | ||
| 16 September 2015 | 18:30 | Serbia |
89–75 | Czech Republic |
8,726 | |
| 21:00 | Italy |
85–95 (OT) | Lithuania |
13,173 | ||
| 17 September 2015 | 16:00 | Greece |
97–90 | Latvia |
Olympic qualifying playoff games | |
| 18:30 | Czech Republic |
70–85 | Italy |
15,004 | ||
| 21:00 | Spain |
80–75 (OT) | France |
Semi-final | 26,922 | |
| 18 September 2015 | 18:30 | Latvia |
70–97 | Czech Republic |
Olympic qualifying playoff games | 11,362 |
| 21:00 | Serbia |
64–67 | Lithuania |
Semi-final | 20,042 | |
| 20 September 2015 | 14:00 | France |
81–68 | Serbia |
Third place game | 24,092 |
| 19:00 | Spain |
80–63 | Lithuania |
Final | 27,372 |
UEFA Euro 2016 matches
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The stadium was one of the venues of the UEFA Euro 2016, and held the following matches:
| Date | Time (CET) | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 June 2016 | 21:00 |  Germany |
2–0 |  Ukraine |
Group C | 43,035 |
| 15 June 2016 | 15:00 |  Russia |
1–2 |  Slovakia |
Group B | 38,989 |
| 19 June 2016 | 21:00 |  Switzerland |
0–0 | France |
Group A | 45,616 |
| 22 June 2016 | 21:00 | Italy |
0–1 |  Republic of Ireland |
Group E | 44,268 |
| 26 June 2016 | 18:00 | Germany |
3–0 | Slovakia |
Round of 16 | 44,312 |
| 1 July 2016 | 21:00 |  Wales |
3–1 | Belgium |
Quarter-final | 45,936 |
2023 Rugby World Cup matches
edit| Date | Time (CET) | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 September 2023 | 21:00 | France |
27–12 |  Uruguay |
Pool A | 48,821 |
| 23 September 2023 | 17:45 |  England |
71–0 |  Chile |
Pool D | 44,315 |
| 30 September 2023 | 21:00 |  Scotland |
84–0 |  Romania |
Pool B | 46,516 |
| 7 October 2023 | 17:45 | England |
18–17 |  Samoa |
Pool D | 47,891 |
| 8 October 2023 | 17:45 |  Tonga |
45–24 | Romania |
Pool B | 45,042 |
Concerts
edit| Concerts at Stade Pierre-Mauroy | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Artist | Tour | Attendance |
| 20 July 2013 | Rihanna | Diamonds World Tour | 27,294 |
| 23 July 2016 | Anti World Tour | 34,000 | |
| 31 March 2017 | Bruno Mars | 24K Magic World Tour | 28,262 |
| 29 May 2017 | Depeche Mode | Global Spirit Tour | 26,113 |
| 2 June 2017 | Contestants of Prodiges | — | approx 40,000 |
| 24 June 2017 | Justin Bieber | Purpose World Tour | 27,000 |
| 1 July 2017 | Celine Dion | Celine Dion Live 2017 | 51,355 |
| 2 July 2017 | |||
| 16 June 2018 | Roger Waters | Us + Them | 23,649 |
| 18 June 2019 | Elton John | Farewell Yellow Brick Road | 26,517 |
| 22 June 2019 | Indochine | 13 Tour | 27,000 |
| 23 June 2019 | |||
| 28 June 2019 | Suprême NTM | L'Ultime Tournée ! | 13,248 |
| 6 September 2019 | Soprano | Phoenix Tour | 25,000 |
| 7 September 2019 | |||
| 4 June 2022 | Ninho | Jefe Tour | 22,000 |
| 2 July 2022 | Indochine | Central Tour | 67,838 |
| 3 July 2022 | 67,481 | ||
| 12 May 2023 | Roger Waters | This Is Not a Drill | — |
| 24 May 2023 | Peter Gabriel | i/o the Tour | — |
| 3 June 2023 | Mylene Farmer | Nevermore 2023 | 45,000 |
| 22 June 2023 | Depeche Mode | Memento Mori World Tour | |
| 23 April 2025 | Ninho | Jefe Airlines Tour | |
| 24 May 2025 | Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band | Springsteen and E Street Band 2024+2025 Tour | |
References
edit- ^ "LOSC officially renames its stadium "Decathlon Arena Stade Pierre-Mauroy"". 24 June 2022.
- ^ "Ce sera le stade Pierre-Mauroy". L’Equipe (in French). 21 June 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
- ^ "Nord-Pas-de-Calais. Le grand Stade de Lille, locomotive de la candidature à l'Euro 2016". La Gazette des Communes (in French). 15 May 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ "Euro-2016: Martine Aubry veut huit matches au Grand stade". Le Parisien (in French). 27 September 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ "Le vrai coût du grand stade de Lille". L’Express (in French). 23 October 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Présentation et Historique du Stade Pierre-Mauroy". Stade Pierre-Mauroy (in French). Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ "Accès au Stade Pierre-Mauroy". Stade Pierre-Mauroy (in French). Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ "Parking du Stade Pierre-Mauroy". Stade Pierre-Mauroy (in French). Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Coupe du monde de Rugby 2023". MEL (in French). Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ "Les demi-finales de la saison 2023-2024 du Top 14 se joueront à nouveau à Lille". L'Équipe (in French). 18 June 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ "France (24) 39 - 22 (13) Argentina (FT)". ESPN. 17 November 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ a b Fossurier, Yann (10 September 2015). "Eurobasket 2015 : la métamorphose du Stade Pierre-Mauroy filmée en time-lapse". France 3 Nord-Pas-de-Calais (in French). Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ Martel, Clément (26 November 2017). "La France de Yannick Noah remporte sa dixième Coupe Davis". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ "Handball 2017 : le Stade s'offre un record mondial !". Stade Pierre-Mauroy (in French). 23 January 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ "Paris 2024 Competition Venue Concept Map". Paris 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ "#LOSCPSG : Record d'affluence pour le Stade Pierre-Mauroy". LOSC.fr (in French). 15 April 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ "CdF : le stade où se jouera la finale est connu" (in French). Foot Mercato. 7 March 2023.
- ^ "Le lieu de la finale de la Coupe de France enfin dévoilé". So Foot (in French). 7 March 2023.
External links
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| Events and tenants | ||
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| Preceded by | Davis Cup Final Venue 2014 2017, 2018 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | FIBA EuroBasket Final Venue 2015 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | FIVB Volleyball Men's Nations League Final Venue 2018 |
Succeeded by |