The Meinau stadium in Strasbourg: home of football and Racing Club

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During your visit to the Alsatian capital, don't miss the famous Meinau stadium! Whether you're a football or history enthusiast, discover this emblematic place that has shaped the sporting landscape of Strasbourg for over a century. Home to the Racing Club, it has witnessed numerous sporting victories, architectural transformations and memorable international events. Nestled in a green park, it offers its visitors a unique setting between nature and city. Much more than a simple stadium, the Meinau embodies the pride of the people of Strasbourg.

The Meinau: the story of an emblematic stadium

Is the Meinau stadium on your list of places to visit in Strasbourg? Excellent choice! This stadium is a true symbol of the region. It has greatly contributed to the evolution of local sports history.

It all began last century. This place was known as the "Haemmerlé garden". At that time, it was not the playground of the Racing Club, but hosted FC Frankonia, founded by Germans in 1900. The Racing Club played on an undeveloped field nearby.

In 1914, the leaders of the Racing Club managed to convince the owner of the Haemmerlé garden to sign a lease, for an annual rent. Despite the opposition of FC Frankonia, the Racing Club settled there. Unfortunately, this period was short-lived due to the First World War.

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The year 1921 marked a major turning point with the construction by volunteers of the first wooden grandstand with 800 seats. In the 1930s, the Racing Club became the city's and region's leading football team, and the stadium a reference point for sports enthusiasts.

Stadium development and renovation work

Shortly thereafter, two new stands were built, a standing stand for 2,000 people and a main stand with 2,500 seats. It will gather many supporters.

Work and developments of the stands as well as the stadium followed one another, until 1951, when the stadium could accommodate 30,000 spectators. Meinau was also recognized as the most beautiful stadium in Europe!

The sports complex continued to evolve over the years. Some seats were removed to accommodate giant screens, particularly during the 2017-2018 season. Nowadays, its total capacity is around 26,000 sheltered seats. Many renovation, restructuring and extension projects are currently underway. The objective is to make it the leading stadium in the Grand Est region. The Eurometropolis council announces that the work, of the order of one hundred million euros, will be covered by the local authorities (region, department, metropolis and city).

The home of Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace

The Meinau stadium has been the home of Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace (RCSA) since the last century, and it has seen several victories in French football. Let's look back at its successes and notable matches on its field:

• In 1940, a championship was organized by the German Federation. The FC Frankonia team (which became SS) was never able to beat RCSA.
• In 1934-1935, Racing Club participated in the French Football Championship and finished runner-up.
• In 1938, the Meinau stadium hosted a memorable round of 16 of the Football World Cup between Brazil and Poland.
• During the 1978-1979 season, Racing Club became Champion of France for the first time.
• In 1984, the stadium hosted the match between West Germany and Portugal during the European Championship.
• The French team has also set foot on the pitch 3 times: in 1968, 1984 and 1989.
• In 2001, Racing Club was the winner of the French Cup.
• The latest title is the League Cup in 2019.

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The Meinau stadium is the setting for many celebrations, where passionate supporters gather to support their team with fervor.

Stadium sports and cultural events

The Meinau stadium is not limited to football matches. The stadium occasionally serves as a setting for a multitude of sporting events, cultural and musical.

Pope John Paul II visited Meinau in October 1988. He filled the stadium twice. In addition, concerts have taken place, such as that of Stevie Wonder (1984), U2 (1993), Pink Floyd (1994) and Johnny Hallyday (2003). In 2006, Racing Club hosted a gala match against Olympique de Marseille to celebrate its centenary.

Also, at the start of each season, a "supporters' day" is organized. The workforce is officially presented. The RCSA also offers a wide range of lounges and meeting rooms for seminars, conferences or other corporate events.

Consult the dedicated page on the RCSA website to find out about upcoming events!

Practical information to visit the Meinau stadium

The stadium is located at 12 rue de l'Extenwoerth in Strasbourg, in the Meinau district (southwest of the city).

To get there, favor the tramway:

• From the city center: Krimmeri – Stade de la Meinau (Tram A and Tram E) or Gravière (Tram C).
• From Illkirch: Lycée Couffignal (Tram A and Tram E).
• From Neuhof: Gravière (Tram C).

10 park and ride car parks are also nearby, Baggersee is the closest.

Extend your cultural stay with a visit to the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Strasbourg or the Alsatian Museum! Then go to our B&B HOTEL Strasbourg Sud Geispolsheim to relax in a warm and welcoming setting.