Astroballe at a glance
A multi-sport arena located in the Cusset neighborhood of Villeurbanne, the Astroballe features 5,560 seats and serves as a major athletic hub for the Lyon metropolitan area. It stands as one of the premier basketball venues in France. Inaugurated nearly three decades ago, it serves as the home court for the professional ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne team, which has been led by former NBA player Tony Parker since 2018.
Championed by Mayor Gilbert Chabroux to provide a new landmark for the city and boost its regional profile, the Astroballe opened in 1995 following 6 months of construction. The site of the former Marcel Cerdan stadium was selected for its accessibility via public transit and proximity to the Cusset parking lot, which was expanded for the project. Europe Etude Gecti, an architecture firm based in Villeurbanne, served as the primary contractor in partnership with the Arche, Dugelay, Tarlier firm.
The building features a modern design with a total height of 15.5 meters, with nearly half of the structure submerged underground to minimize visual impact for residents in nearby buildings. Its steel frame includes 53-meter beams, and the seating tiers reach a 43-percent incline, placing spectators close to the 32-by-19-meter court. This floor can be expanded to 44 by 29 meters for gymnastics configurations. The name Astroballe was chosen by readers of the local magazine Viva. It was selected over other options like Villeurb'halle, sport courage, or l'antre du dunk (the dunk lair).
Opening hours
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A legendary arena for a legendary basketball club: Asvel.