Stade Bauer served as France's national stadium from 1911 to 1914. At the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, the venue fell into disrepair. Perhaps its reconstruction will start this year, to the joy of Red Star fans.

Activities related to stadium's construction in recent years

In May this year, the city of Saint-Ouen finalized the sale of Stade Bauer to the Réalités group for € 26.5 million. The takeover of the stadium was one of the main conditions for investors who will undertake the modernization of the facility before the Olympics in 2024.

According to reports from the French media, it may be difficult and the realistic deadline for commissioning the investment is the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025. The aforementioned investors tried unsuccessfully to build a new FC Nantes stadium a few years ago.

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The French development group Réalités won a contract to modernize the facility in June 2019. It was obliged to invest at least € 150 million in the stadium, cultural, commercial and health facilities in the Bauer district. However, 5 months later, the mayor of Saint-Ouen, William Delannoy, handed over the project to Wilmotte, who finished second in the competition.

Legal proceedings took place, as a result of which the investment project returned to Réalités. In November 2020, local residents defined their requirements for the stadium and its surroundings during public consultations, which were attended by 80,000 people.

Compared to 2019, the design will be slimmed down. Initially, it was planned that the venue would have approximately 15,000 seats. Now only 9,750 are planned. The facility will meet the requirements of the two highest leagues in France. The final design of the new arena is to be unveiled in July.

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Stadium in harmony with neighbourhood

The multi-functional facility is to be built on the site of the existing stadium, which is in a very bad condition. Currently, it can only accommodate 2,999 spectators as some of the stands are out of use. Construction of the new arena is part of a larger investment project in the Bauer district of Saint-Ouen, located in the Paris metropolitan area.

Architects' task was to integrate the stadium into architecture of the district with a flea market nearby. It was decided that the facades will be made mostly of bricks, which is to harmonize with the aesthetics of the neighbourhood. Bulk of the associated commercial and residential uses would be conjoined with the east end.

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The proposed venue is inspired by English stadiums from the beginning of the 20th century. Up to four stands are planned, three of which will be roofed, the latter would be a minute one behind the west end.

There will be single-tier tribunes along the sideline, while terraces were initially planned behind the east goal. However, a newer version of the design sees regular single-tier terrace incorporated into the east end.

The emblematic pyramidal residential building behind the west end is to be preserved. The distance between the stands and the playing field should not exceed 6 metres.

The demolition of the stands has already begun, so that by the end of the year the main construction works can begin and the first tribune for 4,000 spectators can be built. During the works, the third division Red Star FC will be able to continue using its stadium.

Author: Tomasz Sobura