Gerland, garden of the gones

The ground of Olympique Lyonnais, five-times French champions, throbs to the rhythm of the round ball. Until 2007 comes round...

The Gerland stadium designers were inspired by Antique Rome and visitors are impressed as gladiators were when they entered the arena. And there is every reason. The masters of the house, Olympique Lyonnais, have reigned over French football for the last four year and now have their eyes on a European title. Opponents can never look forward to a sight-seeing trip, even if they do admire the four neo-classical gates, classed as historical sites, through which they must pass. They are the work of Tony Garnier, designated in 1910 by then mayor Edouard Herriot to give Lyon a sporting complex for a universal exposition in 1914. A World War and a decade later the same Edouard Herriot opened a stadium incorporating an athletics track and cycling velodrome.

1998: New curves

It was not before 1950 that OL settled into their new home and the 1960s that soccer fever engulfed the River Rhone with the French Cup final triumphs of a Lyon side led by Fleury Di Nallo (1964, 1967, 1973), the derby clashes with arch-rivals Saint-Etienne or France’s first international against Spain (1967). Euro 84 saw the cycling track disappear as the stands were brought closer to the pitch. The 1998 World Cup enabled architect Albert Constantin to redesign the corners covering them with a canopy structured in metal and textile stretching 4,300 square metres each. Since then the « Gones », as Lyon folk are known, have racked up four French titles (2002 to 2006).

Rugby as a permanent resident?

OL’s shadow has not prevented rugby followers filling Gerland to celebrate a few French victories although the last Test there saw the Springboks triumph 36-32 in 1997. Five French championship finals have also been played between 1957 and 1972. Local clubs have made little impression on France’s rugby elite apart from CS Bourgoin-Jallieu who have made a habit of playing Championship play-offs at Gerland which is only 50km away (their last being a semi-final against Stade Français in 2004). And Gerland could even become a rugby ground if LOU (Lyon Olympique Universitaire) win promotion to the first division as OL are thinking of building a new, bigger soccer stadium. But one thing is sure, in 2007 Gerland will be living rugby.

Useful information

Address
30 allée Pierre de Coubertin
69 007 Lyon
Phone number: 33 4 72 76 01 70

Access
By plane: Aéroport Lyon Saint-Exupéry
By train : Gare Lyon Perrache or Lyon Part-Dieu
By car : Autoroutes A6, A7, A42, A43, A47
By metro : Ligne B, station Stade de Gerland

Key figures
Capacity: 41,100
Lighting: 1,548 lux