Arkéa Park – design description

On March 30, 2022, the co-presidents of Stade Brestois 29, the Le Saint brothers, together with the mayor of Brest, François Cuillander, presented a new concept for the future stadium. The new venue is designed to hold 15,000 spectators and, as in the vision of four years ago, will be located in the north-eastern suburb of Brest, in the Guipavas commune, opposite Ikea.

The area is well connected with the city center thanks to convenient access roads and public transport. Access is also provided by cycle paths. It is located close to the airport and the main exit roads to the east. On the opposite side of the street (over which a wide footbridge will be built) there is a large shopping center. There will be an additional 1,450 surface parking spaces around the stadium while the club's training center is less than a kilometer away from the venue.

The design by François de La Serre (Architecte DLPG) follows the concept of a "red and white boat in an ocean of green". The stadium will have a typical football layout, with stands located behind the end lines of the pitch. The stands behind the goals will be lower than those along the pitch, and their total capacity will be 15,000 spectators, 700 of which will be available in the boxes. Tickets for the 10,800 seats will be available through regular retail sales and as passes, with the rest to be distributed by the club's business partners. Ticket prices are expected to start from €5 for Ligue 1 matches and €2.50 for Ligue 2 matches.

The stadium will be covered with a red and white facade, with the upper part passing into a canopy, covering the entire auditorium. A distinctive feature of the arena will be the six tall masts placed in the stands behind the goals (three on each side). On their tops there will be wind turbines, and the roof will be covered with 8000 m² of photovoltaic panels. Under the roof, behind the goals, there will be two video screens. Compared to the previous project, many service and commercial spaces, such as a hotel, have been omitted, although the project involves, among others, a trade fair hall and a 2000 m² space for e-sports. The free spaces around the stadium will be transformed into green areas.

Initial plans assume the construction to begin in 2024 and for the facility to be operational in 2026. The project is estimated to cost €85 million and is expected to be mostly covered by private funding. The new facility will replace Stade Francis-Le Blé, which is closer to the center and will eventually be decommissioned following the move.