Rangers are currently enjoying an impressive Europa League campaign having won two of their opening four fixtures in the competition.
Up next for the Scottish outfit is an away trip to the south of France as they prepare to take on OGC Nice on Thursday, 28 November. OGC Nice have yet to record a victory in this year's Europa League.
It promises to be a fantastic encounter with plenty of action for the fans – both on an off the pitch. If you are a Rangers fan who will be attending the match, read on for out guide on the Nice away section at the Allianz Riviera.
A guide to the Nice away section for Rangers fans
What is the Nice away section like for fans?
Football fans in France are famous for being extremely passionate and are often very dedicated when it comes to supporting their side – OGC Nice's fanbase is no different.
However, unlike some grounds across Europe, the Allianz Riviera is still usually incredibly safe for travelling away supporters.
In the ground itself, fans located in the Nice away section will be protected by a perplex glass on either end of the stand, although as alluded to, this is very rarely a necessity and more often is a mere health and safety procedure.
Interestingly, The Allianz Riviera is part of a worldwide collection of Allianz Stadiums, all of which are magnificent venues.
Where will Rangers fans sit at the Allianz Riviera?
Upon arrival at the stadium, you will find that Rangers fans at the Allianz Riviera will be accommodated in the North-Eastern corner of the ground in sections C1, C2 and C3, although depending on how many fans make the journey, this may be condensed into two sections instead.
How many Rangers fans will be in Nice?
Despite the Allianz Riviera having a fairly substantial capacity of 36,178, Rangers were handed an away ticket allocation of just 1,800 for this match.
That is incredibly small compared to most other games in the Europa League this season.
Given the incredibly passionate fanbase Rangers boast it is rather unsurprising then to learn that the Scottish club sold out their allocation. Therefore, at an absolute minimum, expect to see 1,800 Rangers supporters in Nice come matchday.
However, with that being said, the actual figure will likely be far higher than that number, with the short distance between the two countries likely to persuade many supporters without a ticket to make the trip to Nice to soak up the atmosphere ahead of kick-off.
As mentioned, Rangers tickets are now sold out, but if you are still hoping to miraculously get your hands on one, check out our guide on how to get Nice vs Rangers tickets.
Pubs for away fans in Nice
If, instead, you plan on visiting Nice without a match ticket to soak up the pre-game atmosphere, then you are in for a treat.
Located in the South of France, Nice has an incredible countryside atmosphere and good weather, particularly compared to the constant grey skies that seem to plague the United Kingdom year-round.
As such, it is one of the best cities in the world when it comes to enjoying a beer in a nice pub in the hours before kick-off.
Our top three suggestions for pubs in the local area are:
- La Cantine Arkose Nice, Centre commercial Nice Valley, Rue Alain Mimoun, 06200 Nice, France
- Wayne's Bar, 15 Rue de la Prefecture, 06300 Nice, France
- Elisabeth Bar's, 2 Rue Halevy, 06000 Nice, France
How to get to the Allianz Riviera
Once the pre-match festivities are over, 1,800 Rangers fans will, of course, make their way to the Allianz Riviera.
If you are one of those many supporters, then you will likely be using public transport to get to the ground.
By train, Depart from Nice Chemin de Fer de Provence station. Get off at the Saint-Isidore stop, then take the 10-minute safe pedestrian walk to the stadium
Once at Nice Saint Augustin, you will want to hop on the tram.
- It runs from “Port Lympia” station to “Saint-Isidore” every 15 minutes from 2 hours before kick-off
- From kick-off onwards, the line runs on the same route every 20 to 30 minutes. It gradually halts one hour after kick-off
- At the end of the match, trams will run every 5 minutes from the “Stade” station to “Port Lympia.” The “Saint-Isidore” and “Stade” stations (only towards “Saint-Isidore”) are exceptionally closed. Please use the “Stade” station to go to Port Lympia.
If you are driving, the stadium has a few nearby parking lots for you to use:
- PMIN – 900 spaced, easy to find off the A8 motorway and located at 31 Bd du Mercantour, 06200 Nice. Find it at Entrance gate B, after exit 50 “Nice Quest” on the A8 motorway. Use blue shuttle bus to the stadium.
- P5 Arboras – 1061 space, located on Boulevard Jean Luciano. Use the red shuttle bus to the stadium.
- P3 – 100 space, located at 2 Chemin de la Ginestiere, 06200 Nice. Is a 900m walk from the stadium.
From here, a short walk will take around three minutes to see you arrive at the Allianz Riviera.