Velodrome to Football Stadium: A History

In the very chic 16th arrondissement of Paris, straddling the ring road, stands a sporting monument: the Parc des Princes. In his documentary, Gilles Juan looks back on the history of this concrete behemoth that became the home of Paris Saint-Germain supporters.

Before being a building, the Parc des Princes first hosted the games and walks of the royal children on the former site of the cityS fortifications. It is from these outings that it takes its name.

Contrary to popular belief, the Parc des Princes building was not designed to host football matches but cycling races. at its birth, on July 18, 1897, it had more than 3,200 seats and could hold up to 15,000 spectators.

In the center of the concrete track, the lawn is used to play football but the first match of the French team will not take place before 1905. Journalists find in this place a new way of telling the story of sport. Quickly obsolete,the building was destroyed in the 1930s and made way for a new stadium.

Inaugurated in 1932, the velodrome aspect still took over but in the 1960s, track cycling was losing momentum.While othre sports areas give pride of place to athletics tracks, the decision was made to remodel the Parc des Princes around two sports: football and rugby.

This third version, designed by architect Roger Taillibert, is crossed by the ring road, then also under construction. The Parc des Princes will eventually overlook the road with the help of a tunnel supporting the entire east wing of the building.

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