Matmut Stadium de Gerland

Matmut Stadium de Gerland was anchored to the ground since 1926. The work removed the running track and replaced the old terraces with the semi-circular, double-tiered stands that define the view today. Those side stands, known as the Jean Bouin and Jean Jaurès, were left untouched.

When the football club moved to a new arena across the city, the rugby team from Lyon OU took over the site. The change in tenancy brought a different kind of game to the pitch, one that suits the artificial surface laid down during the renovations. The surface itself is a constant factor in how the match is played, a flat, quick stage that contrasts with the weathered concrete of the older sections.

The stadium also carries the weight of its history. It hosted the 1998 World Cup, including a quarter-final between Germany and Croatia. Before that, it saw the 1984 European Championship, and shortly after the rebuild, it hosted a tragic match during the Confederations Cup in 2003. The incident involving Marc-Vivien Foé remains a somber part of the ground’s record. These events are not just dates on a calendar; they are the layers of what has happened within the stands.

The capacity has changed over time, shrinking from the days when crowds could climb the pylons, but the structure remains. The name changed in 2017, but the location has stayed the same. It is a ground that has adapted to new sports and new rules while keeping its original footprint. The stands, with their mix of old and new, tell the story of a city that has grown around it.