The largest stadium in France, Stade de France was originally built to cater to the large number of fans who wanted to witness the Football World Cup live back in 1998. Since then, Stade de France has gone on to host the FIFA World Cup, Euro Championship, and live concerts of various international bands such as Metallica and U2. Read on to learn more about the history and highlights of the stadium, and how to make the most of your visit.

Know More

Stade de France in a Nutshell

Official name: State de France
Location/Address: Stade de France, 93200 Saint-Denis, France. Find on Map.
Date of opening: 28th January 1998
Timings: Based on event timings
Capacity: 80,000 visitors
Architects: Michel Macary, Aymeric Zublena, Michel Regembal, and Claude Costantini.
Type of attraction: Football/rugby stadium and concert venue

Why Visit Stade de France?

Sporting events: The venue is the home turf for the French National football and rugby teams. The venue has hosted 2 Champions League finals and the finals of the European Championship, making it the go-to venue for large-scale events.
Musical events: Aside from being a sporting stadium, the venue is also an arena for music festivals and events. Its musical legacy began with a Rolling Stones concert in 1998, and has since seen bands such as Coldplay, U2 and ACDC perform on its grounds.
Seating capacity: Before the stadium was built, the largest stadium in France could seat a maximum of 45,000 visitors. Since this wasn’t enough to match the interest that was building up, Stade de France was constructed, with a seating capacity of a whopping 80,000 visitors.
Guided tours: When official sports and musical events are not being staged, you can opt for a guided tour of the stadium. Tours are available in English and French, and last 1.5 hours on average. You will catch a backstage glimpse of the stadium, stands, lockers, and the museum during your tour.

Plan Your Visit to Stade de France

Timings

Getting There

The stadium is open for concerts and sporting events.
If you would like to take a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium in the absence of an event, you can opt for a guided tour which happens in multiple slots in a day between 10.30 AM and 4 PM.
The tour is available at least three times a week, depending on the month.
The tour would not be available on the day of, and one day prior to an event.

Stade de France Timings

Address: Stade de France, 93200 Saint-Denis, France.

Find on Map.

The stadium is situated in the suburb of Saint-Denis, around three kilometres to the north of Paris, France.

Closest landmark: Basilica of Saint Denis (1.7 kms away)

Getting to Stade de France

Things to do at Stade de France

Watch a football game

The stadium is the largest in France and regularly hosts championships on its grounds. Watch the website for its upcoming events and be a part of the 80,000 spectators and watch your idols play less than 100 ft away from you!

Check out a rugby match

Along with football, Stade de France is also the official stadium for the French rugby team, who often practice and play here. Catch a rugby match when the championships are on at the Stade de France!

Catch a live concert

Due to its enormity, the Stade de France is often the venue of choice for international artists on tour. The iconic band Rolling Stones inaugurated the string of performances at the venue, followed by artists such as Coldplay, U2, ACDC, Madonna, and Beyoncé.

Take a tour of the stadium

During your guided tour, you will have the opportunity to walk through the tunnel into the stadium, and imagine what it would be like for legends like MBappe to play to a crowd full of spectators. Visit the changing rooms and think about the celebrations that would have ensued during France’s World Cup victory.

Explore the museum

The museum hosts a permanent exhibition that would take you through the journey of the stadium, right from its inception to the victories and losses that it witnessed. Catch a glimpse of signed jerseys, mugs, footballs and more that are housed at the museum.

History of Stade de France

The idea for a new national stadium in France was proposed in the early 1990s in light of the upcoming FIFA World Cup, when officials realized that their current stadium, Parc des Princes, was too small to host a large number of spectators. Thus, construction of the Stade de France began in 1995, and it was completed in 1998, just in time for the World Cup. The opening match, the finals and various matches in between of the FIFA World Cup were played at the Stade de France. In fact, France’s final victory over Brazil in 1998 was the first time the former got to lift the World Cup, making it an even sweeter win on home ground. Ever since then, Stade de France has continued to host a variety of events, including the 2003 Rugby World Cup, the UEFA Euro 2016 football tournament, musical concerts and more.

Who Built the Stade de France?

Michel Macary

Aymeric Zublena

Claude Costantini

Michel Regembal

Michel Macary is a French architect who, along with his team at the Groupe Architecture et Technique Modernes (ATM), was responsible for designing the Stade de France. He was also part of the team that designed the Suwon World Cup Stadium in South Korea, and the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Turkey.

Zublena was the president of the Consortium Stade de France, the group responsible for managing and overseeing the stadium's construction. He was responsible for coordinating between government entities, sports organizations, and construction companies, to bring the project to fruition.

Costantini, one of the architects responsible for building the Stade de France, also specializes in aeronautical buildings such as Marrakech’s terminal at the Turkish airport. His architectural contribution extends to the Bata stadium in Equatorial Guinea, and the Barbara Centre in Paris.

Part of the Groupe Architecture et Technique Modernes (ATM) who designed and built the Stade de France, Regembal is known for his expertise with large projects in complex historic sites. Regembal has also contributed to the beautiful Iberostar Grand Packard Hotel in Havana, Cuba.

Architecture of Stade de France

The seating arrangement follows a bowl-shaped design, ensuring that spectators have a clear view of the playing field from virtually every seat in the stadium. The stadium features two iconic towers at its entrance, which are illuminated at night. These towers serve as a distinctive architectural element, contributing to the stadium's visual identity. Like many modern stadiums, the Stade de France is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including large video screens for broadcasting events and providing information to spectators.The special feature of the Stade de France is its retractable roof 46 meters above the pitch, which covers the entire stadium, making it a year-round all-weather venue. Supported by only 46 steel columns, the construction weighs a massive 13,000 tons, which equals 1.5 times the weight of the Eiffel Tower.

Frequently Asked Questions About Stade de France

What is Stade de France?

The Stade de France is France’s largest stadium, primarily for football and rugby. It is also used to host large-scale events such as concerts and shows.

Where is Stade de France located?

Stade de France is located in the suburb of Saint-Denis, around three kilometres to the north of Paris, France.

What is Stade de France famous for?

The stadium is known to be the home turf for the French national football and rugby teams. All international artists also perform at the stadium as part of their tour.

Why should I visit Stade de France?

The stadium is the largest in the country, and provides a great spectator experience for matches, games, and concerts.

How do I book a ticket to Stade de France?

You can book your Stade de France tickets online, which would allow you to avail great discounts, or you can book them in person at the stadium.

How much does it cost to visit Stade de France?

Guided tours of the stadium start at EUR 11 for children below 17, and can go upto EUR 16 for an adult pass.

Who designed Stade de France?

The stadium was designed by architects Michel Macary, Aymeric Zublena, Michel Regembal, and Claude Costantini.

When did Stade de France open?

Stade de France was inaugurated on January 28th 1998, just in time for the FIFA World Cup.

What's inside Stade de France?

During your tour, you can visit the stands, the changing rooms, and the museum located inside the Stade de France.

What are Stade de France opening hours?

The English and French guided tours of the Stade de France happen in multiple slots in a day between 10.30 AM and 4 PM. The tour is available at least three times a week, depending on the month.

Why is Stade de France important?

The Stade de France is the largest stadium in the country, and is the official stadium of the national football and rugby teams of the country.

Is it worth visiting Stade de France?

The Stade de France is a great place to visit for sports enthusiasts and those looking to witness the behind-the-scenes of an otherwise bustling venue.