Stade de France

Home of French Rugby

Capacity: 80,000

The Stade de France is the largest sports stadium in France, with a capacity of 80,000 seats. Built in 1998 to facilitate France’s hosting of the last soccer World Cup of the 20th Century.  The role of the stadium is to be the home of France’s major sporting events in football, rugby and athletics.

Designed by four architects from two firms: Michel Macary and Aymeric , the roof is one of the most remarkable aspects of the Stade of France,  shaped as an ellipse, it appears to float above the stadium and symbolizes the universality of the sport, protecting all 80.000 spectators without covering the air of play.  The stadium itself covers more than 30,000 sq ft and costs £260 million to build.

Situated in the northern Paris suburb of St.Denis, the Stade de France was built in less than three years by a public/private sector partnership, Construction of the stadium started at the beginning of May 1995 and was completed on November 30th 1997. At its peak, 1,500 people worked on the construction.

One of the most innovative features is that fact that the Stade de France is the largest modifiable Olympic stadium in the world.  It ca be transformed from a soccer stadium into an Olympic-sized arena in less than a week.  The retractable lower stand holds 25,000 and can be shifted 15m underneath the middle stand creating a versatile and innovative arena and allowing all spectators a spectacular view.

The stadium is considered lucky in France as it's where France achieved their greatest ever sporting victory to date – a 3-0 victory over Brazil in the World Cup final in July 1998. For Rugby, France beat England 24-17 in the first rugby international there. The first international try at Stade de France was scored by Philippe Bernat-Salles for France.

In 2007, the Stade de France plays host to the seven best matches at the Rugby World Cup 2007, including the semi-finals and the final.  A first class range of Official Corporate Hospitality options are
available, not least a VIP seat in the Panormique Restaurant – ‘the best seat in the house’, here you can dine in style with a world class view of the proceedings.  Private tables are available for between 4 and 8 guests.  VIP match seats are located adjacent to the restaurant, giving guests the opportunity to return for half time refreshments, post match savoury snacks and celebratory drink. – an experience of a lifetime!