Populous complete Euro 2016 stadium in Lyon
by Kim Megson | 20 Jan 2016
The largest stadium built for France's forthcoming UEFA Euro 2016 football championship has been completed in the city of Lyon.
The 59,186-capacity Parc Olympique Lyonnais – known during construction as the Grand Stade de Lyon or Stade des Lumières – was designed by global sports architects Populous and French group AIA Associés. The opening was celebrated with a league match between Olympique Lyonnais and Troyes in the French Ligue 1, followed by a 45-minute DJ set from music star will.i.am.
Costing an estimated €350m-€450m (£260.1m-£334.4m, US$380.3m-US$489m), the development includes sporting facilities, two hotels, a leisure centre, commercial and business offices and a museum. It is based in the Decines-Charpieu district of the city.
The most significant architectural feature is the 53,700sq m (570,000sq ft), roof – one of the largest for a sports stadium in the world – which is designed to echo the local forest canopy and extends over an external podium. A new area of public space has been created below, hosting pop-up events and an integrated bus and tram terminal linking the stadium with the city.
Other innovative features include a ‘green car park’, which is used as a public park when matches aren’t being held, and a private wifi network which will allow 20,000 people to be connected to the internet.
Meanwhile, the north and south stands are specifically designed to facilitate singing between the home fans of Olympique Lyonnais, improving the atmosphere in the ground.
The stadium can also be adapted into a concert venue for 60,000 spectators and is able to host a range of sports events. The European Rugby Champions Cup Final will take place there in May.
“We are very proud of the Grand Stade de Lyon, said Populous senior principal Nicholas Reynolds. “Working with Olympique Lyonnais on such a momentous project has been a fantastic experience, and has resulted in a stadium design which really speaks to the culture of both the club and the city. I am certain that it will become a real destination venue for the region.”
The French government green-lit seven new stadiums for Euro 2016. Work on Herzog & de Meuron’s 42,000-seat football stadium in Bordeaux was completed in May last year.
Populous have been selected to design the new French national stadium of rugby by the French Rugby Federation (FFR), which is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.
Architecture design Populous Euro 2016 France Lyon Grand Stade de Lyon Olympique Lyonnais
The overhanging roof has created a new public space around the ground Credit: Populous
The stadium features a ‘green car park’, which is used as a public park when matches aren’t being held Credit: Populous
08 Jan 2016
will.i.am to help Olympique Lyonnais inaugurate 59,000-capacity stadium
29 May 2015
Zinedine Zidane gives seal of approval to Herzog & de Meuron’s newly-completed Bordeaux stadium
11 Feb 2013
Populous win contract for new French national rugby stadium
The largest stadium built for France's forthcoming UEFA Euro 2016 football championship has been completed in the city of Lyon. The 59,186-capacity Parc Olympique Lyonnais – known during construction as the Grand Stade de Lyon or Stade des Lumières – was designed by global sports architects Populous and French group AIA Associés. The opening was celebrated with a league match between Olympique Lyonnais and Troyes in the French Ligue 1,
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