Stade Bollaert-Delelis

The ground sits at the end of Avenue Alfred Maës, and it took its first name from Félix Bollaert , a director of the Compagnie des Mines de Lens who pushed the project through and died before he could see it open. Gustave Spriet designed it. The mining company built it for a mining town.

It opened able to take almost 50,000. That work — costed between 70 and 78 million euros against an early estimate nearer 50 — replaced the roof with supports that let the internal pillars come out, so the obstructed-view seats disappeared. RC Lens spent the interruption playing in Amiens.

So has Johnny Hallyday, who drew about 40,000 here in June 2009.