Futur Stade de Bordeaux

Key facts

Club: FC Girondins de Bordeaux | Capacity: 43,000 seats | Scheduled opening: 2015 | Status: in planning

Description

Futur Stade de Bordeaux is the planned new stadium of Girondins de Bordeaux and a selected playing venue for the Euro 2016 Championships. It will replace Bordeaux’s current stadium Stade Chaban-Delmas.

Construction is expected to start late 2012 or early 2013 and estimated to be completed in 2015. The stadium is designed by architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron, earlier responsible for stadiums such as the Allianz Arena and St Jakob-Park.

According to the architects, the design aims to project elegance, openness and lightness, with flights of stairs leading up to an open corridor and a roof supported by a large number of thin poles. The capacity of the stadium will be slightly under 43,000, including 3,000 business seats and another 1,000 seats in VIP lodges.

The project has however also encountered criticism of local citizens who object against the high costs, estimated to be €166 million and for 50% financed with public money, and lawsuits could potentially derail planning.

A site has been selected on the northern edge of the city of Bordeaux, not far from the river Rhône. An area of parklands will be created around the stadium, which will be connected to the city with new tram lines.