Stade Vélodrome has stood in the Sainte-Marguerite neighborhood of Marseille since June 13, 1937, growing from a cycling and football venue into one of France’s largest and loudest stadiums. Designed by architect Henri Ploquin, it has served as the permanent home of Olympique de Marseille for nearly nine decades, hosting some of the most passionate crowds in European football.
The stadium’s global résumé is deep: it staged matches at the 1938 and 1998 FIFA World Cups, the UEFA European Championship in 1960, 1984, and 2016, Rugby World Cups in 2007 and 2023, and football at the 2024 Paris Olympics. A major 2011–2014 renovation ahead of Euro 2016 added a 5,500-tonne roof and pushed capacity to 67,394, cementing its status as a UEFA category 4 venue.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Olympique de Marseille (1937–present)
- Location: Marseille, France
- Opened: June 13, 1937
- Capacity: about 67,394
- Architect: Henri Ploquin (original); SCAU (2014 renovation)
- Notable fact: Roof added in 2014 weighs roughly 5,500 tonnes
The Matchday Experience
Marseille’s supporters are famous for turning Stade Vélodrome into one of the most intimidating atmospheres in French football, with flares, chants, and a stadium bowl designed to amplify noise. The steep stands and full roof, added during the 2014 renovation, trap sound in a way the original open-air bowl never could.
Beyond OM’s Ligue 1 fixtures, the venue occasionally hosts RC Toulon rugby matches and French national team games, and its scale has made it a regular pick for major international tournaments across football and rugby.
From Cycling Track to World Cup Venue
True to its name, the stadium began with a cycling velodrome alongside the football pitch, a layout that shaped its bowl-like design. Capacity grew steadily through the 20th century, reaching 60,031 by the 1998 World Cup before the 2011–2014 rebuild removed the old track’s legacy footprint and pushed seating to its current 67,394.
Naming rights have shifted over time, with the ground known as Orange Vélodrome from 2016 before a new sponsorship took effect in mid-2026, though fans and most references still know it simply as Stade Vélodrome.
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Stade Vélodrome FAQs
How many people does Stade Vélodrome hold?
Its current capacity is about 67,394, reached after the 2011–2014 renovation for Euro 2016.
Which team plays at Stade Vélodrome?
Olympique de Marseille has called it home since the stadium opened in 1937.
When did Stade Vélodrome open?
It opened on June 13, 1937, and has been renovated several times since, most significantly in 2014.
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Photo: Sophie P. / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.