Visiting Groupama Stadium
In the eastern suburbs of the Lyon metropolitan area, you will find Décines-Charpieu, home to the Parc Olympique Lyonnais. This venue, once dubbed the Stade des Lumières, has been contractually renamed Groupama Stadium through 2025. It serves as both a premier soccer stadium and a broader sports and entertainment complex.
A private project years in the making
Following the public listing of the Olympique Lyonnais club (Holding OL Group), leadership sought to build their own stadium. The project began in 2007, but securing funding proved difficult, and construction was repeatedly delayed. Local municipalities were largely hostile to the proposal, which was originally slated for Vénissieux. A site in Décines-Charpieu was eventually selected by Gérard Collomb, the president of Grand Lyon.
Numerous towns and local groups fought the construction, and the existing urban plan did not allow for such a facility. An attempt to modify the zoning was overturned by a court ruling. The Fédération Française de Football (French Football Federation) intervened, designating the site, which was still just a set of blueprints, as an official host for the Euro 2016 tournament. This move allowed for a declaration of public interest in May 2011. After a lengthy legal battle, the building permit was finally signed in February 2012.
A five-star, multi-use facility
Jean-Michel Aulas, the club president, entrusted the project to the American architectural firm Populous, which has designed 66 stadiums and sports arenas across the globe. The soccer pitch features 59,200 seats, meeting the highest quality standards set by FIFA. It includes 105 VIP suites and is outfitted with a photovoltaic roof, a rainwater harvesting system, and a hybrid turf field.
The complex houses a museum, several restaurants, the training center, club offices, a massive leisure facility, two hotels, a sports clinic, and office buildings. It functions as more than just a stadium. It is an active hub and a self-contained ecosystem east of Lyon that remains open to visitors throughout the year.
Opening hours
*Information subject to change
The Groupama Stadium blew me away with how ultra-modern it is. Everything is huge, clean, and perfectly organized, from the esplanade to the stands, with incredible visibility no matter where you are sitting. I also really liked everything around it in the OL Vallée area, like the shops, activities, and dining spots. It is almost like a small city.