Stade de Gerland facts for kids
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| Full name | Stade de Gerland |
|---|---|
| Location | 353, Avenue Jean-Jaurès, 69007 VIIè Arrondissement, Lyon, France |
| Coordinates | 45°43′26″N 4°49′56″E / 45.72389°N 4.83222°E |
| Public transit |  Stade de Gerland–Le LOU |
| Owner | City of Lyon |
| Operator | Lyon OU |
| Capacity | 35,029 |
| Field size | 105 x 68 m |
| Surface | Artificial |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1914 |
| Opened | 1926 |
| Renovated | 2017 |
| Expanded | 1960, 1980, 1998 |
| Construction cost | 32.7m € (including renovations) |
| Architect | Tony Garnier René Gagis (renovation) |
| Tenants | |
| Olympique Lyonnais (1950–2015) Lyon OU (2017–present) |
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The Stade de Gerland (also known as Matmut Stadium de Gerland) is a famous sports stadium in Lyon, France. It's currently the home field for the Top 14 rugby team Lyon OU. The stadium can hold 35,029 people.
Located in the Gerland area of Lyon, this stadium was once the home of the professional football club Olympique Lyonnais. They played there until 2015, when they moved to a new stadium. In 2017, the rugby club Lyon OU moved in. Before that, their stadium was much smaller. When Lyon OU moved in, the stadium's seating capacity was changed from 43,000 to 35,029.
The Stade de Gerland is a Category three stadium, which means it meets certain international standards. It has hosted many important sports events. These include the 1954 Rugby League World Cup, UEFA Euro 1984, the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Besides sports, the stadium has also been a stage for concerts by famous artists. Bands and singers like The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, and Genesis have performed here.
History of the Stadium
Building a Dream Stadium
The idea for a big sports stadium in Lyon came from the city's mayor, Édouard Herriot, in 1910. He wanted a stadium with a track for athletics and a velodrome (a track for bicycle racing). In 1912, the project was approved. A local architect named Tony Garnier was chosen to design and build it.
Construction started in 1914. Everyone hoped it would be ready for the International Exhibition that year. However, World War I began, and work had to stop. After the war ended in 1919, construction started again. Many German POWs helped with the building. By 1920, the stadium was mostly finished. Mayor Herriot officially opened the Stade de Gerland in 1926.
Changes and Upgrades
The stadium originally had a cycling track. This track was later removed to make space for more seats, increasing the capacity to 50,000.
In 1984, the stadium got some updates to prepare for UEFA Euro 1984. Architect Rene Gagis led these changes. New stands, called the Jean Bouin and Jean Jaurès stands, were built.
More big changes happened for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. At that time, FIFA (the international football organization) required all World Cup stadiums to have seats for everyone. The north and south stands were completely taken down and rebuilt. The athletics track, which had stayed even after the cycling track was removed, was also taken out. Architect Albert Constantin managed these renovations. After these updates, the stadium could hold 40,500 people.
Home to Football and Rugby
From 1950 to 2015, the Stade de Gerland was the home of the French professional football club Olympique Lyonnais. They moved to the stadium after separating from another sports club. The stadium's record attendance for a Ligue 1 football match was 48,552. This happened during a game between Olympique Lyonnais and Saint-Étienne in 1982.
Concerts and Events
The Stade de Gerland isn't just for sports. It's also a great place for large concerts and other events. Many famous musicians have performed here over the years. These include The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, and Genesis.
Major Tournaments Hosted
The Stade de Gerland has been chosen to host many important international sports tournaments.
1954 Rugby League World Cup
The stadium was one of the places where the very first Rugby League World Cup was held. It hosted a group game between Great Britain and Australia. Great Britain won that match 28–13.
1972 Rugby League World Cup
Stade de Gerland was again a host venue when France hosted the tournament for the second time. It was chosen to host the 1972 Rugby League World Cup final. This final was also between Great Britain and Australia. The game ended in a 10–10 tie, even after extra time. Since Great Britain had finished first in the group stage, the draw meant they won the World Cup.
UEFA Euro 1984 Matches
The stadium was one of the venues for the UEFA Euro 1984 football tournament. It hosted these matches:
| Date | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 June 1984 |  Denmark |
5–0 |  Yugoslavia |
Group 1 | 24,736 |
| 24 June 1984 |  Spain |
1–1 (5–4 pen.) | Denmark |
Semi-finals | 47,843 |
1998 FIFA World Cup Matches
The Stade de Gerland was also a venue for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. It hosted several exciting matches:
| Date | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 June 1998 |  South Korea |
1–3 |  Mexico |
Group E | 39,100 |
| 15 June 1998 |  Romania |
1–0 |  Colombia |
Group G | 39,100 |
| 21 June 1998 |  United States |
1–2 |  Iran |
Group F | 39,100 |
| 24 June 1998 |  France |
2–1 | Denmark |
Group C | 39,100 |
| 26 June 1998 |  Japan |
1–2 |  Jamaica |
Group H | 39,100 |
| 4 July 1998 |  Germany |
0–3 |  Croatia |
Quarter-finals | 39,100 |
2003 FIFA Confederations Cup Matches
The stadium hosted games during the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup.
| Date | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 June 2003 | France |
1–0 | Colombia |
Group A | 38,541 |
| 20 June 2003 | Colombia |
3–1 |  New Zealand |
22,811 | |
| 21 June 2003 |  Brazil |
1–0 | United States |
Group B | 20,306 |
| 23 June 2003 | United States |
0–0 |  Cameroon |
19,206 | |
| 26 June 2003 | Cameroon |
1–0 | Colombia |
Semi-finals | 12,352 |
During a semi-final match on June 26, 2003, a player named Marc-Vivien Foé from the Cameroon team sadly collapsed on the field. Despite efforts to help him, he passed away shortly after. It was later found that his death was due to a heart condition.
2007 Rugby World Cup Matches
The stadium was also a venue for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. It hosted these matches:
| Date | Time (CET) | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 September 2007 | 15:45 |  Australia |
91–3 |  Japan |
Pool B | 40,043 |
| 11 September 2007 | 20:00 |  Argentina |
33–3 |  Georgia |
Pool D | 40,240 |
| 15 September 2007 | 13:00 | New Zealand |
108–13 |  Portugal |
Pool C | 40,729 |
See also
- Parc de Gerland
