In recent years, Paris Saint-Germain has become one of the top forces in European football. Since its inception in 1970, the club has gone from a relatively humble beginning to a global superpower, home to some of the world’s biggest stars.
However, even with the funding of the Qatari state, they have reached these heights with a comparatively small stadium. The Parc des Princes’s 48,000 capacity is less than the likes of 1. FC Kaiserslautern, Athletic Bilbao and even Ligue 1 rivals Lille OSC.
It's no surprise to hear the news that the Paris club is now looking to leave the Parc des Princes. Read on to find out what they plan to do next.
PSG new stadium updates
December 2024: PSG are currently evaluating three potential sites for its new home. The nearest option, just three miles away, is the Saint Cloud racecourse, but it faces challenges with fan management, including parking and safety concerns.
Another choice is Montigny-le-Bretonneux, located 15 miles from the current site, making it quite a distance away. The regional mayor has given PSG a deadline of the end of 2024 to reach a decision on this move: “The discussions are on standby,” indicating limited progress on PSG's part. Lastly, the furthest location, Poissy, is in the western suburbs of Paris. Although it is 18 miles from Parc des Princes, it is only 2.5 miles from PSG's training facility in Yvelines.
For now, PSG dream of a new home, but it will cost them. However, a club of its size cannot rely on renting a stadium for the long term, and the owners are keen to get the club into its own dedicated stadium sooner rather than later.
For the now, the three sites all look a long way off from becoming PSG's new home, and much of the talk could all just be the club posturing to try and pressure the local government to sell them the Parc des Princes.
Why are PSG planning to leave the Parc des Princes?
Unlike most other European giants, PSG do not own their stadium. Instead, the Parc des Princes is owned by the Council of Paris.
This has posed a serious problem for PSG's previous plan to renovate the stadium. Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), which owns PSG, has said it will not commit to upgrading the stadium until it owns it. This meant that a deal with the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, had to be struck.
Dealings with Hidalgo over the stadium have been very tricky in the past, with the mayor telling Le Parisien in January of this year that “We have a very clear position. The Parc des Princes is not for sale, and it will not be sold. This is a firm and definitive position. It is an exceptional heritage for Parisians.”
Relations with the club have since become strained, with a PSG spokesperson responding: “It is surprising and disappointing to hear that the mayor of Paris is taking a position which, effectively, will force PSG, our fans and communities away from the Parc des Princes; while also – quite remarkably – adding tens of millions of Euros to the taxpayer burden to maintain the structure of the building, which is now 50 years old and in need of renovation.”
PSG have become tired of the ongoing stalemate, and are now putting plans in place to leave the Parc des Princes. Their aim is to find a new stadium as soon as possible.
The club's President, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, told the UEFA Congress on 8 February that “It's over, we want to move. It's very clear. The decision is simple now. Unfortunately, we have to leave. We've wasted years trying to buy it.”
What stadium will PSG move to?
It was previously reported by France24 in March of last year that, due to these difficulties in purchasing the Parc des Princes, PSG had explored submitting a bid for the Stade de France, the 80,000-seater home of the French national team.
The lease for the stadium is held by a consortium of French companies, but expires in July 2025. The quoted price for a sale is around €600 million.
The club have also looked into building an entirely new stadium in Poissy, a small town in Paris’ suburbs where the club is already building a new training ground.
But, now that PSG have set their sights on leaving the Parc des Princes, the most recent report in 90min suggest the club are looking at three options for stadiums to move to.
Stade Jean-Bouin
The most likely option is the nearby Stade Jean-Bouin. With a capacity of 19,904, the stadium is also owned by the City of Paris but it is suggested that they would be much more open to selling the stadium than they are the Parc des Princes.
The ground is already the home of Paris Saint-Germain Feminine, as well as various rugby and American football games. It is understood that the other sports may be able to take place at the Parc des Princes, once PSG have left the stadium.
Stade Sebastien Charlety
Another option is the Stade Sebastien Charlety, home of Paris FC. The stadium also has a capacity of 20,000 and is also owned by the City of Paris, and the City would be open to its sale.
However, this would be an extremely controversial move as it would likely lead to Paris FC needing to find a new home.
Paris La Defense Arena
The third option is the Paris La Defense Arena, the largest of the three stadiums at 30,000. Opened in 2017, it is the home of rugby team Racing 92, but may not be for much longer – the rugby side are reportedly looking to return to their old stadium, the Yves-du-Manoir, following an extensive renovation program.
PSG had considered building their training complex at La Defense before they opted for Poissy instead, so the area is already on their radar.
How much would it have cost for PSG to buy the Parc des Princes?
Despite Hidalgo’s claims that the stadium was not for sale, in April PSG submitted a bid of €38 million for the stadium.
Hidalgo called this bid “ridiculous”, even reminding QSI that business in France is done to differently to what they might be used to in Qatar.
“It may be a bluff or a misunderstanding about what our democratic rules are. We are in a country where the rule of law works, so there are procedures,” she said.
For comparison, the French government estimated the value of the Stade de France at €647 million in 2021.
Parc des Princes timeline
1897: The first Parc des Princes opens with a capacity of around 10,000.
1932: The Parc des Princes is rebuilt with a capacity of 45,000. The capacity is reduced to 38,000 to allow fans more space.
1972: The third Parc des Princes, the one we know today, is completed. It quickly gains a reputation in France as a “caisse de résonnance” or “box of sound” for its intense atmosphere and proximity of the supporters to the pitch. France play the USSR in the inaugural match at the new ground.
1973: PSG play their first game at the Parc des Princes, beating Red Star F.C. 3-1.
1974: Following PSG’s promotion to Ligue 1 and Paris F.C.’s demotion to the second tier, PSG move into the Parc des Princes full time.
1984: France beat Spain at the Parc des Princes in the final of EURO 1984.
1998: The Stade de France is completed, and replaces the Parc des Princes as the home of Les Bleus.
2013: PSG agree a deal with the Paris City Council to extend their lease of the stadium until 2043.
2016: A three-year, €75 million upgrade of the Parc des Princes is completed ahead of EURO 2016.
New PSG stadium renovation FAQs
What is the PSG stadium capacity?
The Parc des Princes currently holds 48,000 supporters.
What was the planned capacity for the Parc des Princes renovation?
A renovated Parc des Princes would have been able to host 60,000, a 25% increase on its current size.