Glaz Arena

It is a new build. The private construction by the Legendre Group allowed the new facility to open quickly in 2019.

In one configuration, it hosts the handball matches for the local club, the *Irréductibles*. The players run on a smooth wooden plane while the crowd watches from blue and grey plastic seats that wrap around the court.

In another setup, the same floor is covered to host badminton tournaments. The green courts are laid out in rows, and the overhead screens change their focus. This ability to switch modes is the true utility of the arena. It was built to replace the old Palais des sports de la Valette, which was too small for the ambitions of the city. It is not a stadium for football, but a multi-purpose hall that serves the wider Rennes Métropole community.

The name Glaz comes from the Breton word for green, a nod to the local colours rather than a corporate sponsor. That choice of name sits quietly on the roof. Inside, the atmosphere is defined by the activity on the floor. One match might see the handball team fighting for a place in the top league, while another day brings international badminton players to the same surface. The capacity holds about 4,500 people, a size that feels intimate for the city. The history here is short, but the flexibility of the building ensures it will be used for many different kinds of sport.