If you’re lucky enough to have gotten tickets to Euro 2016 then enjoy the football, the sun and the atmosphere. If, like the members of Paddy Power Blog, you’ll be stuck in the office being constantly harangued by the Office Bellend, your luck is out. But to help you pretend to be there, we’ve gone through the stadiums chosen for games at the Euros.
Stadium Municipal
Where? Toulouse
Capacity? 33,150
Built in: 1937 but underwent renovations in 1998.
Occupants: Multipurpose but mostly used by Toulouse FC, Stade Toulousain and for French rugby test matches.
Previous tournaments: 2007 Rugby World Cup and 1998 Fifa World Cup.
Matches in Euro 2016: Spain vs Czech Republic (Group D), Italy vs Sweden (Group E), Russia vs Wales (Group B) + 1 Round of 16 game.
Fun fact: Michael Jackson sold out the venue during his Dangerous World Tour in September 1992. Also features in the FIFA video game series.
Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Where? Lens
Capacity? 41,229
Built in? 1933 but renovated last year
Occupants: RC Lens
Previous tournaments: 1984 European Championship, 1998 FIFA World Cup, 1999 and 2007 Rugby World Cups.
Matches in Euro 2016: Albania vs Switzerland (A), England vs Wales (B), Czech Republic vs Turkey (D) + 1 Round of 16.
Fun facts: Has four seperate stands dedicated to famous historic Lens natives. A Jehovah’s Witness gathering occured there in 2006 and it also appears in a French film.
Stade de Nice
Where? Bruce Forsyth’s favourite city of Nice
Capacity? 35,624
Built in? 2013
Occupants: OGC Nice and occasionally RC Toulon
Previous tournaments: None
Matches in Euro 2016: Poland vs Northern Ireland (C), Spain vs Turkey (D), Sweden vs Belgium (E) + 1 Round of 16.
Fun facts: Officially known as Allianz Riviera but due to UEFA licensing rules, renamed for Euro 2016, similar to the Dublin Arena.
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
Where? Saint Etienne, Loire
Capacity: 42,000
Built in? 1930 with five renovations since then most recently in 2014
Occupants: AS Saint Etienne
Previous tournaments: 1984 Euros and the 1998 World Cup
Matches in Euro 2016: Portugal vs Iceland (F), Czech Republic vs Croatia (D), Slovakia vs England (B) + 1 Round of 16
Fun fact: Contains a panoramic restaurant.
Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux
Where? Bourdeaux
Capacity? 42,115
Built in? May 2015.
Occupants: Girondins de Bordeaux
Previous tournaments: None
Matches in Euro 2016: Wales vs Slovakia (B), Austria vs Hungary (F), Republic of Ireland vs Belgium (E), Croatia vs Spain (D) + 1 quarter final match.
Fun fact: Uses hybrid grass. No, we’re not sure what that is either.
Parc des Princes
Where? Paris
Capacity? 48,712
Built in? 1897
Occupants: Paris Saint Germain
Previous tournaments: 1938 and 1998 World Cups, 1984 Euros and has hosted six European football cup finals, alongside the 2007 Rugby World Cup
Matches in Euro 2016: Turkey vs Croatia (D), Romania vs Switzerland (A), Portugal vs Austria (F), Northern Ireland vs Germany (C) + 1 Round of 16 game.
Fun facts: Has it’s own Kop End. Hosted concerts from Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, Michael Jackson and MIKA amongst others.
Stade Pierre-Mauroy
Where? Lille
Capacity? 50186
Built in? 2012
Occupants: LOSC Lille
Previous tournaments: None
Matches in Euro 2016: Germany vs Ukraine (C), Russia vs Slovakia (B), Switzerland vs France (A), Italy vs Republic of Ireland (E), 1 Round of 16 + 1 quarter final.
Fun facts: Hosted the finals of the FIBA EuroBasket in 2015 won by Spain. Rihanna plays there on the 23rd of July.
Parc Olympique Lyonnais
Where? Lyon
Capacity? 59,186
Built in? 2016
Occupants: Lyon
Previous tournaments: None
Matches in Euro 2016: Belgium vs Italy (E), Ukraine vs Northern Ireland (C), Romania vs Albania (A), Hungary vs Portugal (F), 1 Round of 16 + 1 semi-final.
Fun facts: Was originally to be called OL Land. Venue for 2019 Women’s World Cup
Stade Velodrome
Where? Marseille
Capacity? 67,394 (the largest club football ground in France
Built in? 1937
Occupants: OM, RC Toulon
Previous tournaments: 1938 and 1998 World Cups, 1984 Euros, 2007 Rugby World Cup
Matches in Euro 2016: England vs Russia (B) France vs Albania (A), Iceland vs Hungary (F), Ukraine vs Poland (C), 1 quarter final and 1 semi final
Fun facts: The French rugby union side were unbeaten for 3 years in the Velodrome. Will become the first stadium in Europe to have hosted three European Championship semi finals.
Stade de France
Where? Paris
Capacity? 81,338
Built in? 1998
Occupants: French national football and rugby teams
Previous tournaments: 1998 FIFA World Cup, 1999 & 2007 Rugby World Cups.
Matches in Euro 2016: France vs Romania (A), Republic of Ireland vs Sweden (E), Germany vs Poland (C), Iceland vs Austria (F), 1 Round of 16 game, 1 quarter final and the final.
Fun facts: 75 concerts have taken place in the Stade since 1998. The only stadium in the world to have hosted both a FIFA World Cup final and a Rugby World Cup final. 2003 and 2006 Champions League finals took place there as did the 2003 World Athletics Championship