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Although the French League is not among the four major leagues in Europe, it still has some impressive teams, such as Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, the Olympique de Marsella, and the recently promoted Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire, or simply ASSE.
The latter, which played most of the time in the second league of French football, regardless of its condition as a “small team,” has one of the most modern sports facilities in France, a stadium that delights fans and rivals alike.
If you’re passionate about football arenas and want to know more about this “Green Hell” (ASSE’s nickname is “Le Verts”—The Greens), keep reading this short article and marvel at this football construction!
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What Is the Saint Etienne Stadium?
The Saint Etienne Stadium, also known as the Geoffroy Guichard Stadium and “Le Chaudron,” is a football stadium in the city of the same name, Saint-Étienne, which is in the Auvergne-Ródano-Alpes in France. The Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire, ASSE, has played its home matches in the Saint Etienne Arena since its inauguration in 1931.
Like many stadiums in the country (most of them very old), the Saint Etienne Stadium underwent several renovations to become a world-class arena with modern amenities and services. Below, we delve into these topics!
Saint Etienne Stadium Location
The Pierre Geoffroy-Guichard stadium is located in the city of Saint Etienne, in the Loire Department. It is 3 kilometers to the north of the city centre, a distance you can easily overcome on foot, by car or by public transport. Address. 14 rue Paul et Pierre Guichard. 42028 Saint-Etienne. France.
How to Reach the Saint Etienne Stadium
By car, take the Bd Daguerre, then Rue de Tardy, Bd Alfred de Musset, Bd Julies Janin, and Bd Thiers until you reach the stadium. The trip should take approximately 13 minutes.
You can also take the tram at the Centre Dexu station and get off at the G. Guichard stop. This station is just in front of the stadium.
Saint Etienne Stadium Key Features and Amenities
Let’s check the key features and amenities of this modern stadium characterized by bright green colours and open spaces.
- Surface: Grass
- Pitch Size: 105 x 68 m
- Capacity: 42,000 attendants.
- Date of foundation: September 13, 1931
The Saint Etienne Museum
The Saint Etienne Arena boasts an impressive 800m2 museum that summarizes the city club’s over ninety-year history. Here, you can witness the club’s nineteen major trophies, over fifty historical club jerseys, hundreds of photos, and interesting stories of players and fans.
Capacity of stand: 9,574
The Saint Etienne Store
The stadium also boasts an impressive “The Verts” shop (boutique), characterized by dozens of products you can acquire within the stadium and online. Beyond the team’s jerseys, you can find bags, cushions, drawstring bags, sweatshirts, mugs, pins, magnets, scarves, and many other accessories. If you’re a fan of the Cauldron, then the Saint Etienne store is your football dreamland!
Eight VIP Places
The Stade Geoffroy Guichard boasts eight unique and world-class areas for the enjoyment of the most demanding fans and visitors.
Manufacture x Ninkasi
source: Business Club Des Etoiles
This is a unique sports bar inside the stadium. It has a big area able to accommodate one hundred people and more while enjoying coffee, beer, a glass of wine, cheese boards, and good French cuisine. The Manufacture is a stylish place with a great personality and a nice atmosphere. It’s the right place to wait before the matches begin. It stands out due to its free-service buffet.
Galerie (La Bodega Stéphanoise)
source: Business Club Des Etoiles
The Galerie is a nice VIP space where visitors can spend time together while waiting for the next event within the stadium. The Galerie resembles a typical French bar with snacks and concoctions. This VIP area has lateral suites to the pitch in the Pierre Faurand Tribune, a magnificent place to watch the club’s game. It’s a nice place to invite collaborators and clients to business meetings.
Suite 1933
source: Business Club Des Etoiles
The Suit 1933 is a panoramic restaurant within the Pierre Guichard stadium. From here, you can enjoy the pitch of St Etienne in all its splendor and glory. The Suite 1933 is a luxury restaurant always prepared to receive the most demanding VIP visitors. The restaurant boasts an excellent buffet with typical dishes of the region and from all of Europe.
Tribune Officielle
source: Business Club Des Etoiles
The Tribune Officielle is the stadium’s reception hall, where visitors can enjoy a quick appetizer or drink before watching the local football team play. This extensive and open area has small tables and no chairs, so people must eat and drink while standing and fervently talking. From here, you can visit the other VIP areas of the Saint Étienne stadium or go directly to the stands.
Prestige
source: Business Club Des Etoiles
Every large stadium in Europe and France has a special room where people can relax, stretch their legs, and rest. The Saint Etienne arena, just like other stadiums, has a VIP room for such purposes, where visitors can perform chilling meetings while watching the game on a small TV hanging on the wall.
To Mini Salon
source: Business Club Des Etoiles
The Mini Salon is a relaxing lounge where visitors can enjoy an evening together with a buffet and tasty drinks. It’s a perfect place for meetings since it has large tables for coworkers or businesses to talk in a warm and caring environment. In other words, this VIP room has a great atmosphere for all kinds of gatherings before, during, and after the match.
Loges Privatives
source: Business Club Des Etoiles
This zone corresponds to a VIP area that resembles a living room with sofas, coaches, and small tables for sharing with friends or other fans. It’s a small area that makes you feel you’re in a private box (there its name is “Loges Privates”). This zone likely has one of the best views of the pitch in the entire stadium.
Salon Platini
source: Business Club Des Etoiles
The mythical French footballer Michelle Platini also has a VIP room within this football stadium. It’s a smaller and more comfortable room for a small group of people, businesses, or real fans who want to enjoy a unique experience while drinking a cocktail and eating an appetizer in an intimate setting.
A Brief History of the Le Chaudron Stadium
Since its inauguration in 1931, this classic stadium has hosted impressive events and football matches. Consequently, it has undergone renovations and expansions throughout the years. The major upgrades took place in 1984 and 2016. In 1984, due to the Euro games, the club expanded the stands. In 2016, due to the EURO, the grandstands reached their current size, and ASSE improved the accesses.
Matches in the Saint Etienne Stadium During the France 1998 FIFA World Cup
The Saint Etienne Stadium was one of ten stadiums in France to host the 1998 FIFA World Cup matches. The Pierre Guichard Arena hosted six matches.
| Date | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Round | Attendants |
| June 14, 1998 | Yugoslavia | 1-0 | Iran | Round Group – F | 30,600 |
| June 17, 1998 | Chili | 1-1 | Austria | Round Group – B | 30,600 |
| June 19, 1998 | Spain | 0-0 | Paraguay | Round Group – D | 30,600 |
| June 23, 1998 | Scotland | 0-3 | Morocco | Round Group – A | 30,600 |
| June 25, 1998 | Netherlands | 2-2 | Mexico | Round Group – E | 30,600 |
| June 30, 1998 | Argentina | 2-2 (4-3) | England | Round of 16 | 30,600 |
Matches of Rugby in the Saint Etienne Stadium During the 2007 Rugby World Cup
Thanks to its capacity, the Saint Etienne Stadium can host many types of sports events, such as Rugby and others. In this sense, the Geoffroy Guichard Stadium hosted some matches of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
| Date | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Round | Attendants |
| September 9, 2007 | Scotland | 56-10 | Portugal | Round Group – F | 34,162 |
| September 26, 2007 | Samoa | 25-21 | United States | Round Group – B | 33,616 |
| September 29, 2007 | Scotland | 18-16 | Italy | Round Group – D | 35,615 |
Build Your Football Career in FootballTeam
There are several types of venues and football structures on the planet football. France’s stadiums stand out due to their style and modernism. They have nothing to envy other giant stadiums of the European leagues. And best of all, you can own a stadium similar to Saint Etienne, thanks to FootballTeam!
Play the FootballTeam Game and start your career in the football world! Choose the league of your preference and put the ball on the ground! From there, the sky’s the limit!
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