www.stadiaworld.com SPORTS VENUES 2023/24 | 37 OPERATION gigantic photovoltaic system, geothermal energy and rainwater collection. Apps and WiFi are also available. With a capacity of 60,000 seats (including 6,000 VIP seats), Groupama Stadium is the third largest stadium in France. Around 10% of the capacity is dedicated to hospitality and VIP facilities, i.e. around 6,000 seats spread over two levels with exclusive access. On the lower level, there are seven different lounges, including the President Box, which houses VVIPs. Each of these lounges offers a different concept and special catering. There is also a Bocuse restaurant open for lunch on game day and weekdays. On the upper floor there are 105 private lounges with 12, 18 or 24 seats and 4 event lounges with 50 seats. A unique selling point: Groupama Stadium is the only stadium in Ligue 1 that is 100% privately owned. “This is very unusual in the French system, where venues are often wholly or partly owned by local authorities,” Pierrot points out. “The club runs the venue entirely with its own staff and employees. This allows a high degree of flexibility and rapid intervention in operations,” Pierrot continues. OL Valley: No wishes remain unfulfilled Located at Décines-Charpieu, in the eastern suburbs of Lyon, Groupama Stadium is part of the giant OL Valley entertainment district. The 23,000 square meter complex covers the complete range of business events and private functions – it includes, among other things, a 4-star hotel, a leisure center with bowling, indoor surfing, padel or escape games, as well as a 300-seat theater and a wide variety of restaurants. Groupama Stadium is also well located in terms of accessibility: There are three train stations and two airports nearby (less than 15 minutes away), and within just two hours you can reach Paris by train (the French “TGV”). There are a total of 6,700 parking spaces on the stadium grounds, and 8,800 more can be found outside, then with direct bus connections. Up to 500 bicycles can be parked at the stadium – there is also a dedicated tramway station. “The stadium’s central location, modern facilities and easy access make it a strategically important stadium for international events and competitions,” says Xavier Pierrot. Flexible location More than 8 million people have attended public events at Groupama Stadium since it opened in January 2016. “The average attendance at Olympique Lyon home games last year was very good at 46,305 fans, which is in fact the third most spectators in the French championship,” says Pierrot. However, the Groupama Stadium has not yet been completely sold out for soccer matches: the attendance record for a home match is 58,230 spectators – set against Paris Saint-Germain last September. The overall record is 73,000 spectators who attended the concert of the French new wave rock group “Indochine” last summer. A central stage was set up in the middle of the pitch. So Groupama Stadium has experience not only in French club soccer. The flexible event location in southeastern France has already hosted rugby matches and many different concerts: World stars such as Rihanna, Cold-
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