Stade de France
The Stade de France is the largest stadium in France and the stadium where the French national team plays most of its home matches. It has a capacity of 80,000 seats.
Plans for the stadium were developed after France was awarded the 1998 World Cup. At that time no stadium in France had a capacity of over 45,000, hence the need for a 80,000 stadium. Construction began in 1995 and after 31 months, on the 28th of January 1998, the stadium was completed and opened with a friendly match between the national teams of France and Spain. Zinedine Zidane scored the first and only goal of the match.
A few months later it would be the flagship stadium at the 1998 World Cup, hosting among others the opening match between Brazil and Scotland (2-1), the semi-final between France and Croatia (2-1), and the final between France and Brazil (3-0). The stadium has hosted two Champions League finals in its existence. The first in 2000 between Real Madrid and Valencia (3-0), and the second in 2006 between Barcelona and Arsenal (2-1).
Getting there
Stade de France is located in the Parisian suburb Saint-Denis, approximately 3 kilometres north of the city limits of Paris, 5 kilometres north of Montmartre, and 8 kilometres from the Louvre.
Two motorways run directly past the stadium: the A1 (which also connects with the centre of Paris) and the A86. From the A1 take exit 2 Stade de France and from the A86 take exit 9 Saint-Denis – La Plaine Stade de France.
To reach the stadium by public transport one can either take the metro or the RER (metro extension). RER lines B and D reach the stadium from Châtelet (10 mins) or Gare de Nord (5 mins). If you take line B get off at La Plaine Stade de France, when taking line D at station Stade de France Saint Denis. Metro line 13 connects the stadium with the stations Montparnasse (25 mins), Invalides (20 mins) and Saint-Lazare (15 mins). Get off at stop Saint-Denis Porte de Paris.
Tram line 1 connects the stadium with Paris’ eastern suburbs. Buses 239, 253, 139, 153, 173, 255 and 350 also stop at the stadium.
Address: Stade de France, 93216 Saint-Denis
Tickets
No club team currently occupies the Stade de France as Paris Saint-Germain plays its home matches at the Parc des Princes. Ticket sales for matches of the French national team go via the French Federation.
Stadium tours
Guided stadium tours are available. They include visits to the presidential lodge, changing rooms, players’ tunnel, and a museum that is dedicated to the construction of the stadium and the events that have been held at the Stade de France over the years. The tour lasts about an hour and a further 30 minutes can be spend in the museum.
Tours run every day of the week, except on Mondays between the 1st of September and 31st of March. In the summer months tours run every hour between 10:00am and 5:00pm, and in the winter months every other hour between 10:00am and 5:00pm. English-language tours run only at 10:30am and 2:30pm.
The tour costs €12.00. Reservations can be made through the website of the Stade de France or by phone +33 (0) 892 700 900, but aren’t necessary as tickets are sold on a walk-up basis.
Relevant Internet links:
Stadedefrance.com – Official website of the Stade de France.
Parisinfo.com – Official website of the Paris tourism office.
RATP.fr – Paris public transport maps, timetables, and fare information.
