The Football Supporter Issue 19 is now available to buy from our FSF shop for £3.50.
Olympique de Marseille
Ground Address:
Stade Vélodrome
3, Boulevard Michelet
13008 Marseille
History
The Stade Velodrome was a venue in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and was used for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. The record attendance for a club game at the Stade Velodrome was of 58,897 for a UEFA Cup semi-final game against Newcastle United FC in 2004. more...
The stadium underwent renovation work for the 1984 European Championships, during 1982/83 season and then again before the 1998 World Cup and was transformed into an immense ground composed of two kop ends (Virgage Nord and Virage Sud - North Curve and South Curve) which house the supporters groups as well as the main stand, Jean Bouin, and the imposing Ganay Stand, none of which is covered and offers unobstructed views on the pitch.
There are plans to increase the capacity to 80,000 and build a roof to cover all four stands. By clicking on the following link you can see drafts of the future design of the New Marseilles Stadium.
The north stand is home to the Ultra groups Yankee Nord Marseille, Marseille Trop Puissant, Fanatics, and Dodgers supporters associations.
The south kop style end is dominated by the two biggest Ultra groups of Olympique de Marseille more...
which are also famous for their exceptionally massive display of banners and colours at the beginning of the game, called Commando Ultra in the lower half and the South Winners in the upper half of the central section.
In accordance with the club, all these groups manage the sale of season and single tickets amongst their members themselves after buying them up at the beginning of each season.
Away fans find themselves in the North East corner of the stadium. They should enter the ground at Parque Chanot Hall 7.
The easiest way to get there is from the metro terminal station “St. Marguerite-Dromel” and walk along the Ganay Stand.
General Ground Information
The Stade Vélodrome is centrally located, in approx 3.5km distance south of the city centre with a capacity of 60,031.
It is the largest stadium in France and also regularly used by the French rugby union team.
Facilities inside the ground, means toilets as well as subsistence facilities, are rather poor but there are several pubs within convenient walking distance to the ground. more...
However, these pubs are mostly crowded on matchdays as they are mainly frequented by Marseille supporters. If you tend to go there, be aware that there have been problems between English football supporters and locals in the past.
The Stade Velodrome is located on Boulevard Michelet 3.
From the train station “Saint-Charles” it takes around 8 minutes by subway to get to the stadium.
You can access the stadium by 2 stations on the 2nd subway line (red line): Take the subway in the direction of Sainte Marguerite-Dromel and get off at either Rond-Point du Prado (located in the south of the ground) or at the terminal Sainte Marguerite-Dromel, latter possibility of which is the quickest way to get to the away fans area.
Getting to the Ground (By Car)
If you come from the north, leave the autoroute at the junction Aubagne and follow the signs to the Stade Velodrome.
There is a parking area near the ground at Avenue Jules Cantini called Castellane. However, if you arrive in good time before kick-off, you may still find spare parking spaces around the stadium.
