Key facts
| Address | 261 Boulevard de Tournai, 59491 Villeneuve-d’ascq, France |
| Capacity | 50,186 seats |
| Club | Lille OSC |
| Build Date | 17 August 2012 |
| Architect | Pierre Ferret |
| Average Attendance | 34,079 (Season 2018/19) |
| Record Attendance | 48,960 (Lille v. PSG, 1-1, 03 December 2014, Ligue 1) |
| Stadium Cost | £253 million |
| Roof | Retractable roof |
| Who is the owner of Stade Pierre-Mauroy? | Eiffage (until 2043) |
| Pitch Size | 105 m × 68 m |
| Where is Stade Pierre-Mauroy located? | 50.6118833°N 3.13042778°E |
| Nickname | Grand Stade Lille Métropole (former name from 2012 till 2013) |
| Surface | AirFibr (hybrid grass) |
Seating plan
Stade Grimonprez-Jooris was Lille’s home stadium from 1975 until 2004. Then the club moved to Stade Lille-Metropole with a plan to redevelop and expand their home ground. Debates about the economic feasibility of such redevelopment led the club’s management to a new idea. In 2010, they started the construction process of a modern multi-purpose ground.
Lille’s new stadium was originally named Grand Stade Lille Metropole. When Pierre Mauroy, an important politician in the history of Lille and the whole country, died in 2013, it was decided to rename the ground in his honour.
Stade Pierre-Mauroy has four separate stands. Nord and Sud sections are those located behind the goals. Est and Ouest are the main stands of the venue. The upper tiers of the corner zones are filled with the seats as well. The ground features ultra-modern amenities including the one-of-a-kind one-piece retractable roof.
Speaking about the categories of seats, they include:
- Business club, VIP, and hospitality seats – premium zones;
- Cat 1 seats – are some of the best, yet affordable seats;
- Cat 2 seats – the majority of the seats at the main stands, located closer to the corner zones;
- Cat 3 seats – located behind the goals, including the die-hard fans zone located at the Nord stand.
Stade Pierre-Mauroy is currently the fourth largest sports ground in the country. Important football, rugby, and basketball competitions often take place there. Among them were the knock-out phase matches of EuroBasket 2015, the UEFA Euro 2016 matches, and certainly the local competitions. Some great concerts also took place at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. The world-known pop stars performed there. Among them are Celine Dion, Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Elton John, and the others.
Tickets
Lille is a cosy and compact city with about 200,000 residents. If you would like to take a great and quick weekend trip from Paris to Lille, it’s a superb idea. As a football fan, you’ll have so much pleasure to watch the game at the stunning local stadium. Ticket Compare is a timesaving solution which will help you to get your tickets in advance. This resource provides tickets at a reasonable price for all events taking place at the home ground of Lille OSC. Of course, visitors can opt for more traditional ways to get tickets. They include:
- The official website of Lille OSC;
- By phone – +33 (0) 892 68 56 72;
- At the ticket office and at Lille OSC fan shops.
The ticket prices at Stade Pierre-Mauroy normally vary from £13 to £80. Please, note that they are subject to change at any moment. The prices also depend on the game status and popularity of the opposing team.
Hotels near
Some of the best neighbourhoods to stay in Lille are located about 3-5 miles north-west of the football ground. For example, you’ll definitely love to stay in areas such as La Citadelle, Republic Square, or Théâtre Sébastopol. I have a few specific hotel recommendations in Lille, so please keep reading.
Highest-rated
- Tulip Inn Lille Grand Stade Residence – is a magnificent hotel option in Lille for £94 per night. The venue is situated literally several steps away from the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. The contemporary style of this residence is truly impressive.
- ibis Lille Villeneuve-d’Ascq Grand Stade – is another marvellous place to stay in Lille for £103 per night. The hotel rooms are equipped with just about everything you can imagine. It is a 20-minute walk away from the ground.
- B&B Hôtel Lille Lezennes Stade Pierre Mauroy – offers amazing double and twin rooms for just £70. It’s about 12-minute walk away from the stadium of LOSC. The rooms are sound-proof and larger than average for this price in the city of Lille.
- Hôtel du stade Lille Est Stade Pierre Mauroy – if you are on a budget bust still want to book something cool, consider this option. At £34 per night, it’s a lucky find. It’s located about half-a-mile away from the city’s main sports ground.
How to get to
Although the ground is located outside of Lille’s boundaries, you won’t have any difficulties with transportation before the match. There are numerous options available for the sports fans. Below you can read more details on this issue.
By Metro – have you ever used driverless metro trains? Well, this is a wonderful chance to test one of the most modern metro systems in the world. Lille’s metro is very convenient. You can use either Line 1 or Line 2. Take off at 4 Cantons Grand Stade or Cite Scientifique, if you are taking Line 1. Both stations are located about half-a-mile away from the venue. There is a free shuttle bus connecting the ground with Meadows station (Line 2).
By Train – high-speed international trains arrive at Lille-Europe Station (Gare de Lille-Europe). You can get from Brussels to Lille within 35 minutes and from Paris and London within under 1 hour 30 minutes. The local trains are slower. They arrive at Lille-Flandres Station (Gare de Lille-Flandres). It will take you about 30-40 minutes to get from these train stations to the stadium if you use metro.
By Car – satnav will help you to reach the stadium quickly. Traffic jams are very common on the matchdays, so don’t hesitate to arrive in advance. The ground’s address is 261 Boulevard de Tournai, 59491 Villeneuve-d’ascq.
By Plane – Lille Airport is located only 6 miles to the south-west from the sports venue. A cosy 12-minute taxi ride won’t empty your wallet.
Parking
There are over 7,800 parking spaces for various vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, and buses. In many cases, you will be able to reserve your parking spot, if you do it in advance. But if all spaces are occupied, there is always a solution. The approximate matchday paid parking price near the sports venue in Lille is £3.
Eating out nearby
Lille is the city with many students and a vibrant nightlife. Thus, its restaurants and cafes won’t leave you disappointed. Many people think that Lille’s food scene is all about beer, mussels and chips. However, there are many things to try at this wonderful travel spot.
Pubs, bars & cafes
- Le Dandy – if you would like to try the best cocktails in Lille, you should go to this ultra-popular drinking spot. Their cocktails are simply incredible. Furthermore, it’s a very pleasant place with nice music which creates a special atmosphere bus still allows you to communicate with your fellows.
- Dernier Bar avant la Fin du Monde – is a super unusual bar with Halloween-style décor and many great drinks on the menu. You can play card games with your friends, take photos with the famous movie characters, such as Yoda, and explore thousands of crazy and fun interior details at this drinking spot.
- Le Bar Parallèle – is the third bar that can be recommended in Lille, although there are certainly much more. By the way, all the decent pubs and bars are located in the city’s centre. It’s about 6 miles north-west from the LOSC stadium. This bar is more suitable for the couples or quiet and cosy meet-ups of the small groups of friends.
Restaurants
- L’Improviste – is located within a 12-minute drive from the venue. It’s a French restaurant with lots of food options from the fresh seasonal ingredients. You’ll love the flavours of the French village. The prices and the service are also satisfying.
- La Table de Sam – is a very decent place to dine out! It’s located about 4 miles away from the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, close to the central streets of Lille. They’ve got the large tables for big groups of friends and an exclusive wine list.
- Aux éphérites – is one of the best foodies’ destinations in Lille. It’s located near République – Beaux Arts and the historical museum. There are many transport options available, but the taxi will bring you from the stadium to this restaurant within about 15 minutes. You’ll enjoy fantastic tastes and brilliant service.
Things to see at the stadium
The stadium in Lille has a variety of modern facilities and interesting things to show off. For example, it’s the only stadium in France which can completely close the roof within 30 minutes. It has about 70,000 LEDs on the animated wall space. Also, there are 7,300 VIP seats. This modern venue has five configurations, which make it possible to use in multiple ways –for rugby, basketball, football, concerts, and many other events.
Tour
Guided tours cost only £12 for adults and £8 for children of the age from 6 to 18. If you have a group of 20 people or more, you can contact the stadium’s officials and book a private tour. You will be delighted to see the backstage of the Stade Pierre-Mauroy and to hear some exciting stories about the history of the club and venue from the experienced guide.
Fan store
Lille’s huge Boutique Officiale is located at the West stand of the ground. There is a second place where you can buy their official jerseys and other similar stuff. The second boutique is much tinier. Boutique LOSC Centre Ville is situated in the heart of the city, a few dozen steps away from République – Beaux Arts metro station. If you prefer shopping online, Lille OSC has an official boutique. You can order pretty much any Lille-related merchandise that exists there.
Things to do in Lille
Being the capital of the northern Hauts-de-France region, Lille has a responsibility to present this region at its best. Luckily for every football fan which plans the trip to this French city, it’s a very fun place to explore. Music festivals, art events, awesome food and wine, lots of youth, and one of the friendliest atmospheres in France – this is a good foundation. You’ll be delighted to see abundance of baroque buildings along the cosy and safe streets and to experience the true atmosphere of the ancient French city.
Sightseeing tour
If you only have one or two days in the wonderful city of Lille, you should, first of all, take Lille City Sightseeing Tour. The bus tour in Lille is a perfect opportunity to run through the city’s major attractions quickly. It can help you to decide which of them worth your attention. Among the other fine tours available in this city, are guided tours of the Old Lille, including the popular free walking tour and river tours, such as a relaxing 1-hour Marin d’Eau Douce.
Top 3 places to visit
Place Charles de Gaulle – is a perfect starting point and an epic meeting place in Lille. It’s the very heart of the city. Thus it’s surrounded by the sweetest places of interest, best cafes, souvenir shops, and much more.
Palais des Beaux Arts – is also referred to as Fine Arts Museum. Its stunning architecture is the first reason why you would probably want to go there. But its art collection is even more impressive. You will likely hear people call this venue “the Second Museum of France”. Undoubtedly, the Louvre is more impressive, but Palais des Beaux Arts is a fantastic place.
Marché de Wazemmes – is you are a fan of unusual shopping, visit this great outdoor market. You’ll be able to pick some unique antiques, exotic fruits and spices, artistic flower bouquets and many more great things there. Keep in mind that Lille’s most amazing market only works on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday mornings.
