Discover the Stade de France!

Image

Located in the northern suburbs of Paris, in Saint-Denis, the Stade de France is the largest stadium in France. It is also an iconic French venue, hosting shows and artists from around the world. 

History of the Stade de France

The Stade de France is located in the Plaine Saint-Denis district, in the near suburbs of Paris. It was built for the 1998 World Cup, as the Parc des Princes could not accommodate more than 45,000 people. 
 
It was inaugurated on June 10, 1998, by Jacques Chirac in the presence of the biggest names in French sport (Michel Platini, Jeannie Longo, Alain Prost...). The first match played at the "Grand Stade" was a friendly between France and Spain, with the very first goal scored by Zinedine Zidane. A few months later, the French team won the World Cup final there!
 
Of an annular shape, it has an 8000 m2 pitch. Its roof is suspended more than 40 meters above the playing surface. It protects the 45 km of tiers (partially removable) that can accommodate up to 80,000 spectators. The use of crowd simulation software during its design proved to be particularly judicious: it allows for rapid evacuation and practically without congestion. A major advantage in terms of comfort and safety for spectators. 
 
The first stadium to host a World Cup football final and a Rugby World Cup final, the Dionysian arena is often referred to as the cathedral of French sport.
 
It is one of the major points of interest in Seine-Saint-Denis.

What to see at the Stade de France?

The Stade de France hosts the most prestigious international sports tournaments:

• Football World Cup in 1998;
• World Athletics Championships in 2003;
• Rugby World Cup in 2007;
• Champion’s League finals in 2000, 2006, and 2022;
• Euro 2016.

Matches of the Six Nations Tournament take place there every year.

The Olympic and Paralympic Games will take place there in 2024.

The arena also hosts exceptional shows and concerts. Depending on the director's choice, the show can take place on a huge central stage or on a smaller side stage.

Céline Dion, Johnny Hallyday, U2, the Rolling Stones, Muse, Indochine, Lady Gaga (Chromatica), Madonna…

The biggest artists from the rock, pop and international variety scene perform there all year round.

Classical music also has its place at the Stade de France: sublime performances of Carmen by Bizet, Nabucco and Aïda by Verdi as well as other mythical operas have been given there. Go to the official ticket office to buy your tickets!
 
In total, more than 500 prestigious shows and sports events have taken place there since its inauguration. 35 million spectators have already been able to enjoy its incredible atmosphere.
 
Thanks to its ingenious system of retractable stands, the capacity of the Stade de France is scalable. It varies depending on the type of event: 

• more than 80,000 spectators for football and rugby matches;
• 75,000 people for athletics meetings;
• 60 to 80,000 people for concerts with a non-central stage;
• up to 100,000 people for concerts with a central stage.

 The building also has 2 giant screens, each with a surface area of 200m2, the equivalent of a tennis court.
 
Guided tours of the Stade de France take place all year round. Organized during and outside school holidays, they allow you to explore it in every nook and cranny!
 
All around the sports arena, do not miss the "promenade des célébrités". Created in 2008 in the image of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, you will find the hand or foot prints of artists or sports figures who have entered the legend of the Stade de France:

• Sébastien Loeb;
• Manu Dibango;
• Yannick Noah;
• the singers of the group IAM;
• the musicians of Metallica or Black Eyes Peas...

Walk in the footsteps of the Blues and compare your prints to those of the winners of the 1998 World Cup. Zinédine Zidane, Lilian Thuram, Fabien Barthez, or Emmanuel Petit have left their mark there forever.

How to get to the Stade de France?

Close to the A1 and A86 highways, the Stade de France is very easily accessible by car. However, if you have to go there for a show or a sports event, it is better to use public transport. Indeed, the parking lot only offers 3000 parking spaces and quickly reaches saturation.
 
Moreover, most spectators take the RER, metro or bus. RER B and RER D serve the closest stations to the Stade de France. The future Saint-Denis Pleyel station is in the immediate vicinity of the facilities.
 
On big match nights, special logistics are put in place:

• river shuttles pass through the Saint-Denis canal;
• additional RER trains are chartered specifically;
• agents regulate access to the platforms to avoid jostling that could cause falls on the tracks.

Your hotel near the Stade de France

Ideally located at the gates of Paris, our hotel near the Stade de France welcomes you all year round. In the immediate vicinity of transport and restaurants around the Stade de France, it is the ideal base to spend a quiet night after a match or a show.
 
Our soundproofed and air-conditioned rooms, equipped with premium bedding and a private bathroom, offer absolute comfort.
 
Book your hotel in Paris now and enjoy all B&B HOTELS services!