Marseille FC Stadium: An Icon of Football and Culture 

Marseille’s legendary stadium is the second-largest arena in France. Since its opening in 1937, it has been the scene of national and European successes for its club, Olympique de Marseille. Today, we’ll discuss this stadium, which is more than just a sports arena; it’s a symbol of the city and a testament to the evolution of football and sports in general in the region. 

Table of contents

• Marseille FC Stadium: An Icon of Football and Culture 
• Olympique De Marseille 
• History of the Stadium
• Renovations and Improvements
• A Stage for Major Events
• A Grandstand; A Tribute
• A High Tech Stadium
• The Perfect Space For Business And Events
• Tour in the Orange Velodrome Stadium
• Stadium Tickets
• How To Get To The Stadium
• Piłka to Nasza Pasja!

Olympique De Marseille 

Olympique de Marseille, popularly known as “l’OM,” is one of France’s most prestigious and admired football clubs. Founded in 1899, the team has a rich and respectable history in French football, winning several titles in the country’s top league, Ligue 1.

To understand the team’s greatness, Marseille was listed in the Deloitte Football Money League at the end of the 2022-2023 season, becoming the 20th highest-grossing football club in the world. In 2023, it was placed twenty-eighth in the global ranking prepared by the British consultancy Brand Finance regarding brand power. 

I’OM’s home games are often breathtaking and full of excitement. Matches between OM and their rival teams are particularly intense and attract the attention of football fans worldwide. On match days, their home stadium, the Stade Velodrome, Orange Velodrome (since 2016, due to sponsorship rights), or simply Velodrome, is packed with “Marseillais” (as I’OM fans are known) who fill the stadium with chants and banners, creating a unique atmosphere that is famous throughout the world.  

History of the Stadium 

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In 1928, Marseille dreamed of having a municipal stadium, but there was a problem: the city’s only stadium, the Stade de l’Huveaune, belonged to Olympique de Marseille. They even tried to approve a project for a new stadium in 1930, but the city council thought the project was too expensive.

With the 1938 World Cup approaching in France, the idea gained momentum again. In 1935, Parisian architect Henri Ploquin, known for his work on the Vichy municipal stadium, suggested building an Olympic stadium with an athletics track and a sports hall. However, the tight budget meant only the stadium with the track was built.

On April 28, 1935, the mayor of Marseille, Dr. Georges Ribot, laid the foundation stone for the Vélodrome. The chosen location was on the ruins of the former Turcat-Méry car factories, between the districts of Saint-Giniez and Sainte-Marguerite, to the south of the city.

The Vélodrome stadium was inaugurated on 13 June 1937 in front of around thirty thousand spectators. A major sports day was organized, with an athletics meeting and a cycling race (hence the name Vélodrome) on the tracks provided for this purpose.

At the end of this sporting event, a friendly match was played between Olympique de Marseille and the Italians from Torino Football Club. The match ended with a score of 2–1 for the Olympians, who thus moved from Huveaune to the Vélodrome.

In its early days, the stadium hosted sporting events like the tour de France, gymnastics, athletics, and boxing competitions. It also hosted rugby events, as well as motorcycle and car competitions.

Renovations and Improvements

Originally designed to seat 35,000 people, the stadium underwent several expansions throughout the 20th century. During the planning for the 1984 European Football Championship, the Stade Vélodrome increased its capacity to 60,000. The cycling track was gradually removed until it made way for the new stands.

In July 1992, FIFA chose France to host the 16th World Cup, which meant that Marseille would also host some matches. As a result, they decided to expand the stadium. A competition was held in May 1994 to choose the new design, and architect Jean-Pierre Buffi emerged victorious. On 4 September 1997, the Vélodrome hosted the final draw for the World Cup. Finally, on 25 February 1998, the expansion was completed with the opening of the north stand, called Allées Ray Grassi.

In 2014, another renovation was carried out. Key elements of this renovation were the roofing of the stadium, the creation of a plaza, and an increase in the reception capacity to 67,000 seats. The classification as a “UEFA Elite” stadium also leads to increased VIP seats with high-standard lounges and reception.

A Stage for Major Events

The 1984 UEFA European Championship, the 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 2007 Rugby World Cup, and the 2016 UEFA European Championship, and the 2023 UEFA Europa League were some of the major events that had matches at this stadium (and contributed to all of its renovations and improvements).  

The stadium has also been the stage for major international artists, having hosted concerts by names such as ACDC, Paul McCartney, and the Rolling Stones.

Recently, speaking more about our current moment, the stadium was one of the venues for the games held at the 2024 Paris Olympics!

A Grandstand; A Tribute

Since the last renovation in the late 1990s, the Vélodrome stadium’s pitch has been surrounded by four stands, which are not connected; it is impossible to walk around the stadium from the stands. Each stand is a tribute to an important historical figure in the city.

Gustave Ganay Tribune 

The largest Gustave Ganay stand in the stadium can accommodate 22,398 fans. Named after a Marseille cyclist and French middle-distance champion, it is the highest stand and contains a section reserved for disabled fans in the lower part, with a capacity of 46 seats, and a section reserved for opposing fans, with around 258 seats. Lounges can also be found, and 43 VIP seats are present in this stand.

Jean Bouin Tribune

Opposite the Ganay, the Jean Bouin stand is the stadium’s heart, with the presidential stand, VIP boxes, press boxes, and other important facilities. It is named after a Marseille runner who won a silver medal at the 1912 Olympic Games. This part of the building houses the administrative offices, lounges, catering offices, the Olympique de Marseille museum shop, and the command and security post. Under the stand are the sports changing rooms, the referees’ quarters, the anti-doping center, the FIFA offices, the press access, the conference room, the technical rooms, the television studios, and the players’ infirmary.

Tribune Virage Sud and Tribune Virage Nord

The North Curve (or Nouth Stand), known as Patrice de Peretti, pays homage to an iconic Olympique de Marseille fan. At the same time, the South Curve (or South Stand) is named after Chevalier Roze, a nobleman who distinguished himself during the Marseille plague of 1720. Both curves have around 13,000 seats.

A High Tech Stadium

The Velodrome is a true example of how technology can transform the fan experience and optimize the management of sporting events. Since 2018, the stadium has been offering HD WiFi to all visitors, facilitating connectivity, especially for VIP and professional audiences. Aesthetically, the stadium has a façade illuminated by LEDs that change color according to the events, creating a visual effect that I personally found impressive.

In addition, the stadium is self-sufficient in water and energy, using a rainwater harvesting system and wind turbines. Thanks to the connection to a nearby wastewater treatment plant, it also has a sustainable heating and air conditioning system. The selective sorting and recycling of waste complement its responsible environmental approach.

The Perfect Space For Business And Events

In addition to incredible football matches, the Orange Vélodrome offers a unique experience combining the love of the game with business. The building offers 8,500 m² of reception spaces ideal for business events, from seminars to personalized events. With rooms with capacity to accommodate from 7 to 67,000 people, the spaces range from 100 to 2,000 m² and can be configured in a variety of ways. The stadium’s setting is a big plus for conventions, workshops, or gala evenings. In addition, a dedicated team ensures the events’ success.

Tour in the Orange Velodrome Stadium

After reading about this stadium, you probably want to visit it, right? The Stade Vélodrome tour, organized by the Marseille Tourist Office, lasts around an hour. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore exclusive areas such as the players’ changing rooms, the pitchside bench, and the press room. 

The tour also includes a deep dive into the rich history of Olympique de Marseille, highlighting the club’s trophies and memorable moments. Tickets cost €13 and can be booked online or by phone. 

Stadium Tickets

You can purchase tickets for Marseille games online via their official website, which is managed through Digitick. Tickets are also available at the stadium’s ticket office and the OM official store located at 31 Rue St Ferréol in the city center. Additionally, you can buy them at Francebillet, Ticketnet, or other Digitick sales points.

Ticket prices vary depending on the match. Typically, seats behind the goal start at around €10.00, while seats along the sides range from €20.00 to €55.00. Prices may increase for high-demand games, but tickets for less popular matches can be even more affordable.

How To Get To The Stadium

The Vélodrome is located in the south of Marseille, approximately 3.5 km from the city centre and 4 km from Saint-Charles train station. The full address is 3 Boulevard Michelet 13008, Marseille.

The most accessible options are:

• Metro: The easiest way to get to the stadium is via metro line 2. If you are at Saint-Charles station or another station in the city centre, take line 2 heading south. Get off at Rond-Point du Prado or Sainte Marguerite Dromel, depending on where your seat is located, as these stations are on opposite sides of the stadium.
  
• Port area (from Vieux Port ): If you are in the old port area of ​​Marseille, you can take metro line 1 and change to line 2 at Castellane station. Alternatively, you can walk to the stadium. The walking distance is between 30 and 45 minutes. Just follow Rue de Rome towards Avenue de Prado.
  
• Train: Marseille is well connected by the French rail network. There are direct trains from cities such as Paris and Lyon. The journey from Paris to Marseille takes around 3.5 hours, while from Lyon it takes just over 1.5 hours. Train tickets can be purchased in advance (and it is recommended!)  on the official SNCF website. 
  
• By plane: Marseille Airport is 25 km northwest of the city center. To get to the stadium, first take a bus to Saint-Charles station, from where you can take the metro to the Vélodrome.

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