France- Stadiums 30 Meters Apart - Paris Could Host The Closest Derby Ever

18.02.2025 15:44

source: StadiumDB.com; author: Paulina Skóra

It's official – Paris FC (PFC) will play at the Jean Bouin Stadium next season, leaving Charléty behind. The PFC stadium will now be just a few meters away from the Parc des Princes, home of PSG.

Acquired by the Arnault family and the Red Bull group, Paris FC is aiming for promotion to Ligue 1 this season. One organizational issue has just been resolved: PFC will no longer play its matches at the Charléty. An agreement has been reached with Stade Français, allowing PFC to share the Jean Bouin, located just a few meters from the Parc des Princes. Football and rugby will continue to coexist at Jean Bouin, as the stadium will host both Paris FC and Stade Français next season.

The Spanish newspaper AS predicts that PFC will develop rapidly, with the ultimate goal of competing with PSG in Ligue 1, despite Antoine Arnault’s fondness for the club led by Nasser Al-Khelaifi. To move between Paris FC's new stadium and the Parc des Princes, one only needs to cross the street (according to Google Maps, the two stadiums are just 30 meters apart!). This may be more than just a fun anecdote – it symbolizes the desire to challenge PSG head-on. According to AS, this new rivalry could significantly increase interest in the French league, which would help the competition grow, especially since French clubs are currently struggling with TV rights issues, and DAZN has been unable to attract enough subscribers.

Stade Français’ General Director, Thomas Lombard, commented on the agreement to share the Jean Bouin Stadium in an interview with Le Parisien: Is Paris FC paying €4 million in compensation? The exact amount remains confidential. PFC’s presence means a significant loss of revenue for us, which needed to be compensated. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we have hosted around 200 events per year that generate income – now, we won’t have those. So, we analyzed the average revenue over the last 3-4 years to estimate the financial impact, said Lombard.

The stadium will also need to be adapted for football matches. This includes designating a dedicated away fan section and meeting various security requirements. Another challenge to resolve before the next season is the pitch. Stade Français plays on synthetic turf, whereas Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs use hybrid pitches. After Stade Français’ last home game against Castres on June 7, the surface will need to be replaced, with Paris FC covering the costs.

And what about the stadium colors? The pink seats are just covers that can be easily changed – PFC can do whatever they want with them. The dominant color in the stadium is already navy blue, so not much will change. The interior is largely modular, and the LED screens only require a software update. PFC will introduce its visual identity and sponsors. We’re used to this; Jean Bouin also hosts PSG Women, FC Versailles, and the Musketeers. We rent the stadium as a ‘clean stadium,’ so it’s not an issue, Lombard added.

Another challenge will be the logistics of accommodating three clubs in the same area – PSG, PFC, and Stade Français. Discussions are ongoing with representatives from the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), the police prefecture, and the clubs themselves to find the best logistical solution. PSG has specific security requirements, and authorities have stated that there must be several hours of separation between matches at the Parc des Princes and Jean Bouin. The most efficient solution would be to schedule Stade Français and PFC games on the same weekend at Jean Bouin, leaving PSG as the sole user of the area as often as possible.

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