Stade de la Beaujoire

The Stade de le Beujoire opened back in 1984 with a capacity of over 50,000. It was built to be the home stadium of Nantes and has remained the club’s home ever since.

From the outside, the stadium looks more like a velodrome than a football ground due to the curved and sloping roof, however, it certainly has plenty of character

Although all stands are covered by a roof, there have been some complaints from supporters in the away section at the Stade de la Beaujoire about it not being large enough to protect them from the elements.

With that in mind, take a coat or an umbrella if the forecast isn’t great. The view from this area is decent enough, but issues regarding feeling far away from the pitch still apply.

The facilities inside the ground are much improved since the recent renovation work, as is access to the away end, thanks to the installation of more turnstiles.

Being on the opposite end of the ground to the most vocal Nantes fans has its pros and cons. While you won’t have to worry about your safety, you will feel removed from the atmosphere.

The stadium is comprised of four stands – North, East, South and West with the largest being the West stand on one side of the pitch. The East stand, opposite, is significantly smaller and is sometimes closed if the club are struggling to sell tickets.

Despite that, sitting in either the West or East Stand should be considered a priority if you want a good view of the match. The stands behind the goal are the furthest thing you could imagine from steep so you will feel very away from the action here.

On the other hand, if you want to be among the most vocal fans then The Tribune Loire section in the South Stand is your best bet.  Away supporters are situated in the corner that connects part of the North Stand with the East Stand..

The stadium is around 5km north of the centre of Nantes. The best pubs nearby include:

• Le Saint Georges – 1 Bd des Batignolles, 44300 Nantes, France
• O’Bock – 3 Rue Albert Londres, 44300 Nantes, France
• Little Barrel – 18 Rue Eugénie Cotton, 44300 Nantes, France

By car

The stadium can be accessed by car via exit 40 on the eastern ring of Nantes. After taking the exit, follow signs for Porte de la Beaujoire and La Beaujoire.

By public transport

Take Tram Line 1 from the centre of Nantes or the Railway Station to get to the stadium. The nearest stop to the stadium on this line is Beaujoire.

Where to park?

There are several car parks close to the stadium. Some will require pre-booking so contact the club beforehand to secure your space if you are planning on driving.

Ahead of the 1998 World Cup, the stadium underwent significant refurbishment work to convert it into an all-seater stadium. This reduced the capacity to 35,322.

Additional VIP lodges were also installed as was a roof that ensured all four stands were covered.

After the stadium wasn’t given the nod for the 2016 European Championships, plans were put in place to demolish it, however, these were shelved in 2019.

Instead, in 2022, the stadium underwent further renovation work to ensure it was fit for purpose for Nantes’ games in the Europea League, the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games.

The section for visiting supporters was extended by 1,882 seats while a new ticket office and extra turnstiles were installed. In 2023, modern changing rooms were also added to the stadium.

The pitch also received an upgrade around this time, with a modern water recovery system installed to prevent flooding.

The Stade de la Beaujoire has a capacity of 35,322.

Record attendance

• 51,359 (France vs Belgium, 1984)

Average attendances

• 2023-2024: 27,555 (Ligue 1)
• 2022-2023: 30,002 (Ligue 1)
• 2021-2022: 20,485 (Ligue 1)

• Stade Rennais
• FC Lorient
• Bordeaux

Stadium tours at the Stade de la Beaujoire are available throughout the year and follow a similar structure to most stadium tours.

Guests are given a behind-the-scenes look at the changing rooms, mixed zone and dugouts while also being given the opportunity to sit in the manager’s seat in the press room.

Prices:

• Adult member: €12.50
• Under 18 member: €9.50
• Adult n0n-member: €14
• Concessions: €11 incl
• Under 6s: Free