Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Tournament capacity | 35 200 |
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Country | France |
City | Lens |
Clubs | RC Lens |
Inauguration | 18/06/1933 |
Construction | 1932-1933 |
Renovations | 1954, 1976, 1977, 1983, 1995-1997, 2014-2015 |
Cost | €70 million |
Design | Cardete & Huet, Atelier Ferret Architectures (2014-2015) |
Address | Avenue Alfred-Maes, BP 236, 62304 Lens Cedex |
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Stade Bollaert-Delelis – tournament stadium description
Euro 2016 games:
Game | Attendance | Time (local) | Stage |
---|---|---|---|
Albania 0–1 Switzerland | 33,805 | 11/06/2016 15:00 | Group A |
England – Wales | 34,033 | 16/06/2016 15:00 | Group B |
Czech Rep. 0–2 Turkey | 32,836 | 21/06/2016 21:00 | Group D |
Croatia 0-1 Portugal | 33,523 | 25/06/2016 21:00 | Round of 16 |
Average attendance: 33,549
Before the tournament
Opened back in 1933 it’s one of the oldest stadiums used during Euro 2016 and yet it’s one of the best football grounds across France one could think of. Still with its location on the east-west axis, still with corners left empty, it might be considered as “football specific” as it was in 1998, when it hosted the World Cup.
Euro 2016 investment
Initial plans were more impressive than those eventually implemented. One thing that remained almost untouched was the entire concrete structure of the stands. With facades, roof, seats and installations ripped out, it underwent a comprehensive change worth over €70 million, though one of over €110 million was planned earlier.
Location
Lens is of course larger as an urban area than the 30,000+ population they have listed. Still, the stadium is just 1km (under 1 mile) west of the strict city centre and reachable on foot for everyone. In fact, one might think the most significant landmark location not within walking distance is… the city of Lille (derby rivals) lying 40km north-east.
Architecture
Wirth only the bare concrete structure left intact in 2014, the stadium received basically brand new equipment throughout. This considers the roof, seats, and all spectator areas beneath the seating bowl. And, to considerable dissatisfaction of local supporters, architects chose to create a whitish, clear and simple spatial layout of all of these areas. White composite and metal-mesh facades, white steel and white-grey seats create a very neutral, almost sterile environment that received some criticism. Still, it all comes to live with fans inside and/or nighttime illumination.
Stands
The seating bowl remained virtually untouched. Minor changes included removal of the first row of seating and greater roof over all seats (first time in the stadium’s history). Early plans called for expansion to 44,000 seats, but eventually the size remained almost unchanged.
Legacy use
RC Lens may be a second-league club for the duration of the UEFA tournament, but they also remain among the most popular teams in France. In case you need a statement regarding sustainability for a stadium of this size in the long run, the 2015/16 season of Ligue 2 saw crowds of 26,393 people every game!
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Tournament pictures
Non-tournament pictures
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1997-2014:
Related news
2016
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Euro 2016: Record – almost 2.5 million people!
Just as predicted, Euro 2016 broke all records in terms of attendance. Not even the threat of terrorism could stop people from around the world from filling the stadiums beyond 90%.
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Euro 2016: The largest Euro in history
Average capacity of every stadium outgrew all European Championships held in this century. Ticket number highest in history, but how does attendance look so far? Let’s see!
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Euro 2016 Countdown: 08 – Stade Bollaert-Delelis
It was supposed to be prepared magnificently, but it’s decent at best. Still, Stade Bollaert-Delelis stands out as one of France’s most atmospheric stadiums.
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Lens: New roof, old issues
The renovation project of Stade Bollaert-Delelis may have cost roughly $90 million, but issues regarding protection against rain still remain. And they’re only top of a longer list.
2015
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Euro 2016: Group draw over, here’s the calendar
All group games now set, check out detailed times and locations here. Some tasty fixtures await in June 2016 and we can only guess who will make it to the July knock-out games.
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France: Lens return in great numbers!
RC Lens end their season-long exile. And despite relegation they sold out Stade Bollaert-Delelis four days before the opening game!
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New construction: RC Lens stadium morphing
Over the last year its field, roof and seats were removed and are now being replaced. RC Lens’ home ground will be operable in July and finished in December 2015.
2014
2013
2012
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France: Lens stadium renamed
Built almost 80 years ago, Stade Bollaert has just received its second patron, recently deceased mayor André Delelis. From now on it will be known as Stade Bollaert – Delelis.
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Lens: Permit signed, we await construction
As envisaged before, construction permit for redevelopment of Stade Félix-Bollaert has been signed by mayor of Lens. City officials had to correct their financial input, though. Info-stades.fr story.
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Lens: Change of plans, construction back on agenda
In early July it was declared Lens will not be getting a redevelopment of their largest stadium. Now the same authorities say they’ve changed the business model to work well. Works should start in March 2013.
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Euro 2016: Second stadium redevelopment abandoned
No Euro 2016 games for Lens – this disturbing news has been announced at a public meeting on Wednesday. Lens is the second city after Nancy to back out, leaving France with only 9 host venues.