As befits one of the best French football teams of recent times, with seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles between 2002 and 2008, the new Parc Olympique Lyonnais is designed to represent and fuel the future aspirations, not only of the club, but of the city of Lyon itself.
The design objective was to create a building which is a perfect marriage between nature and technology; a stunning stadium that respects its surroundings. The 59,186-capacity stadium is a word-class venue, equipped with all the necessary features required by UEFA to host international tournaments and events, beginning with the UEFA Euro 2016 Finals. The design takes inspiration from the unique relationship that Olympique Lyonnais’ fans have with their stadium; for example the North and South Stands have been designed to respect and facilitate the OL fans’ tradition of singing to one another during games, creating a cacophony of noise and support.
The experience of the supporter is always at the heart of a stadium, and is expressed in this design in three key ways: the approach; the discovery; and the intensity of the game or event. In order to maximise the atmosphere created by the fans, the stadium is enveloped by a huge roof structure, creating a canopy effect which echoes the local forests; protecting the spectators in the stands, amplifying the noise within and extending over a large part of the podium surrounding the stadium. This covering allows the match day experience to be extended, creating new spaces for fans to come together outside of the venue.
The roof will also help to create a civic space which can be used throughout the year, and that can be used for a range of activities and purposes, including cafes, stalls and pop-up events. The attraction and draw of this space is in its ability to serve a range of uses for the football club, as well as for the community of Grand Lyon, all year round.
Inside, the stadium itself has also been designed to offer maximum flexibility in usage, with the ability to host a range of sports in addition to football, including international rugby and concerts with capacities from 20,000 to 60,000. World-class facilities are available for every fan and visitor to the stadium, with bars, meeting rooms, kitchen facilities, banqueting halls, more than 100 executive suites and eight corporate lounges.
At night, the roof lights of the Parc Olympique Lyonnais will announce the new stadium from afar. A key feature that has been specifically designed to reflect the essence of Olympique Lyonnais, the city of Lyon, and the famous Fête des Lumières, the stadium will become a unique beacon for Olympique Lyonnais.
Key Facts • 53,700m2 - the stadium roof is one of the largest in the world • 110 executive and event suits • 30,000m2 - the size of the new civic space created around the stadium • 59,186 - the capacity of the stadium in football mode. The stadium can host up to 60,000 people for concerts and other large events.
