Stade Pierre-Mauroy

Away fans at Stade Pierre-Mauroy are housed in the south-east corner of the stadium, directly opposite Lille’s ultras section. This location means travelling supporters are very much part of the atmosphere, particularly in big matches against Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain or local rivals Lens.

The away section is in the lower-tier corner, separated from the home supporters by netting and stewarding. Views are generally good thanks to the steep rake of the stadium, although supporters in the very front rows can find themselves slightly tucked away by the angle of the corner.

The away allocation for domestic matches is usually around 2,000 seats, although this can be increased for European fixtures or reduced for higher-risk matches. The concourses are spacious and modern, with plenty of food outlets and toilets nearby.

Away supporters normally enter through the gates on the south-east side of the stadium and are often directed from the nearby coach park underneath the ground.

Stade Pierre-Mauroy remains one of France’s busiest multi-purpose venues. Since opening, it has hosted:

• UEFA Euro 2016 matches, including a quarter-final
• Rugby World Cup 2023 matches
• The 2026 Six Nations match between France and Italy
• Major concerts from artists such as Rihanna, Ed Sheeran and Depeche Mode
• France’s final warm-up match before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, against Northern Ireland

The stadium’s retractable roof and ability to transform into a smaller indoor arena continue to make it one of the most versatile stadiums in Europe.

Pierre Mauroy

The stadium is named after Pierre Mauroy, the former mayor of Lille and one-time Prime Minister of France. Mauroy played a key role in bringing the project to life and is still strongly associated with the city.

Eden Hazard

Former Lille star Eden Hazard is one of the club’s most famous former players and is regularly linked with the club. Although he left Lille before the stadium officially opened, he remains a hero among Lille supporters.

Raphael Varane

The former France and Real Madrid defender was born in Lille and has often spoken about his support for the club and region.

Dany Boon

The comedian and actor, famous for “Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis”, is one of Lille’s most famous celebrity supporters and has frequently attended matches.

The most common chant heard around Stade Pierre-Mauroy is:

• “Allez les Dogues!”

This is usually followed by:

• “Allez Lille OSC!”

The ultras in the north stand also regularly lead:

• “Qui ne saute pas n’est pas Lillois!”
• “Lille, Lille, on t’aime!”
• “Aux Armes!”

Before big games, particularly against Lens, the atmosphere can become extremely loud, with the entire stadium joining in.

Lille’s ultras are well known for their large-scale tifos, especially in Derby du Nord matches against Lens.

Derby du Nord – 80th Anniversary Tifo

Before Lille’s 2025 match against Lens, supporters unveiled a giant choreography reading “80 ans au sommet du Nord”. One section was accidentally displayed upside down, but the display still became one of the most talked-about tifos in French football that season.

🇫🇷🫣 Unfortunate moment for Lille’s tifo against rivals Lens… one of the parts was upside down. (@Laurentmazure) pic.twitter.com/Axx0ZhZC5u

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) March 30, 2025

“Ils sont nos cibles” vs Lens

During the same derby, supporters unveiled a tifo featuring goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier “targeting” Lens. It quickly went viral due to its detail and humour.

Marseille Display

Against Marseille in 2025, Lille’s ultras produced a giant message-based tifo stretching across an entire stand. The display highlighted the intensity of one of Ligue 1’s fiercest rivalries.

Stade Pierre-Mauroy is built as a three-tier bowl with executive boxes between the lower and upper levels.

The best overall views are in the middle tier around the halfway line.

For a more traditional, close-to-the-pitch experience, sit in the lower central sections.

The upper tier provides an excellent overview of the whole stadium and is particularly good when the roof is closed.

Away fans are in the south-east corner.

The most popular home sections are behind the goal in the north stand, where Lille’s ultras create the atmosphere.

Stade Pierre-Mauroy seating plan

Lille is a brilliant city for away fans, with plenty of bars in the centre and few restrictions on where visiting supporters can drink.

Rue Masséna is Lille’s main nightlife street and is full of bars serving Belgian beer.

Recommended pubs for away fans include:

• Magnum Café – 57 Rue Masséna
• Shooter’s Bar – 23 Rue Masséna
• L’Irlandais – 162 Rue Solférino
• O’Scotland – 168 Rue Solférino

Most away fans choose to stay in central Lille before taking the metro out to the stadium.

Inside the stadium there are 41 food kiosks spread over two levels. The current catering operator, Topivo Restauration, offers:

• Burgers and fries
• Hot dogs
• Sandwiches
• Vegetarian options
• Soft drinks and beer
• Cookies, popcorn and sweets

French onion soup (€5)
Croque raclette (€6)

Lille vs Strasbourg @FootyScran pic.twitter.com/dzWKWl2ToF

— Jon (@EnolaJon) January 25, 2026

The queues are usually well organised and move quickly.

If you want something more substantial before the match, Lille’s most famous local dish is L’Welsh – a regional version of Welsh rarebit made with beer, ham and cheese, usually served with Belgian fries. One of the best places to try it is:

• Le Georges V – 104 Bis Boulevard de la Liberté

For quick food before the game, the nearby V2 shopping centre has:

• McDonald’s
• Subway
• Various cafés and fast-food outlets

By Car

The stadium is located in Villeneuve-d’Ascq on the eastern edge of Lille and is easy to reach from several major motorways.

Follow the A1, A23 or A27 and then follow signs for “Grand Stade” or “Stade Pierre-Mauroy”.

The stadium is around 15 minutes from central Lille, one hour from Brussels, and two hours from Paris.

Traffic can become heavy around the stadium in the hour before kick-off, particularly for bigger matches.

Car Parking near Stade Pierre-Mauroy

There are several car parks around the stadium.

• Parking A1-Moto is located underneath the stadium and has over 500 spaces.
• Parking A2 offers around 60 accessible spaces and is served by lifts.
• Parking C1 is available for larger vehicles.

Parking at the stadium restaurants also gives you a free parking voucher for Parking A3.

Away coaches are usually directed to the underground visitors’ coach parking area beneath the stadium.

By Train

The easiest route from central Lille is by metro.

Take Metro Line 2 towards CH Dron and get off at Les Prés – Edgard Pisani

From there, shuttle buses and a short walk take you to the stadium. On matchdays, metro services are increased before and after the game.

Lille Flandres and Lille Europe stations are both around 20 minutes from the stadium by metro.

By Plane

The nearest airport is Lille Lesquin Airport, around 5km from the stadium.

From the airport, you can:

• Take the airport shuttle or Ilévia bus directly toward the stadium area
• Travel into Lille city centre and then take Metro Line 2

The journey from the airport to the stadium takes roughly 15–20 minutes.

Stade Pierre-Mauroy has a capacity of 50,186 for football matches.

The stadium can also be converted into a smaller indoor arena of around 30,000 seats for concerts, tennis and basketball.

Official guided tours of the stadium are available through the Villeneuve-d’Ascq tourist office.

The tour lasts around one hour and usually includes:

• The players’ tunnel
• Home and away dressing rooms
• The media room
• Pitchside access
• The VIP areas

Adult tickets cost approximately €15 (£13). Tours are adapted for people with reduced mobility.

If you have time before or after the match, there are plenty of things to see in Lille.

• LaM Lille Métropole – a modern and contemporary art museum
• Lille Grand Palais – one of the city’s main exhibition and event venues
• Musée de l’Institut Pasteur de Lille – dedicated to Louis Pasteur
• Botanical Garden of Lille – ideal for a quieter afternoon
• Beffroi de Lille – the city’s famous UNESCO-listed bell tower

The city centre itself is worth exploring, with Grand Place and the old town full of Flemish-style architecture.

Lille previously played at the old Stade Grimonprez-Jooris, but that stadium had become outdated and too small.

Plans for a new stadium were approved in 2008, with construction beginning in 2010. The total cost was around €300 million (£260 million).

The stadium officially opened on 17 August 2012 with a Ligue 1 match between Lille and Nancy, which finished 1-1.

Originally called Grand Stade Lille Métropole, it was renamed Stade Pierre-Mauroy in 2013.

One of the most impressive features of the stadium is its retractable roof, which can close in around 30 minutes. The lower section of the stadium can also slide and rotate, allowing the venue to be transformed into an indoor arena.

The stadium continues to develop as a major sports and entertainment venue.

Recent changes have included:

• Improved food and drink areas with the introduction of Topivo Restauration
• More efficient queue systems

The Derby du Nord, in particular, is a significant rivalry that reflects the contrasting identities of Lille and Lens. The derby is not just a football contest but also a cultural clash, with each game being treated as a battle for regional supremacy.

The rivalry between Lille and Lens is deeply rooted in the historical and social differences between the two cities, adding to the intensity of the derby.

Stade Pierre-Mauroy was designed to accommodate people with reduced mobility in the best possible conditions. Find here all the practical information regarding access, specific arrangements, and reserved spaces for wheelchair users or those with mobility difficulties.

The Stadium’s services, such as the ATM, ticket offices, food outlets, and restrooms, meet everyone’s expectations.

Each public access gate has a dedicated entrance, marked by a blue cover with the label “ACCES PMR” and pictograms for Pregnant Women, Wheelchairs, and Elderly People (for readability at a distance, not all PMR pictograms could be included). This access allows any person with reduced mobility to enter the Stadium without queuing and, if needed, to be assisted by our staff to reach their seat.

The Stadium also offers up to 500 dedicated UFR spaces, depending on the event configuration. Seats for accompanying persons are available in close proximity to these dedicated spaces. The number of permitted companions depends on the event configuration and is specified on the order form.

For Lille FC ticket prices for the 2025/26 season, you can expect:

Prices can start from €17 (£14.50) on the secondary market.

The cheapest ticket is available for as little as €7.50 (£6.50), while the most expensive seat costs around €50 (£43.50).

Ticket prices may vary based on factors such as the day of the week, opponent team, and demand.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it’s recommended to check the official Lille FC ticketing website or trusted ticketing platforms.