Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Multi-purpose sports venue in Saint-Étienne, France
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard is a multi-purpose sports venue in Saint-Étienne, France, used mainly for football and rugby and able to hold roughly 42,000 people. The four covered stands form a rectangle and enclose the pitch on all sides, with the longer sides accommodating the larger share of seating.
Construction of the stadium began in the early 1930s on land donated by Geoffroy Guichard, founder of the Casino supermarket chain, and the opening took place in September 1931. The original capacity was less than 2,000 seats, but over the decades the facility underwent several expansions and modernizations to host international competitions.
The nickname of the stadium translates to cauldron and refers to the dense atmosphere during home games of AS Saint-Étienne, when the stands fill with supporters. During major matches, thousands of spectators sing and clap in unison, which has given the venue its reputation as one of the loudest football arenas in France.
Getting there is easiest by tram, which runs directly from the center of Saint-Étienne and reaches the stop in front of the stadium in a few minutes. On match days, entrance gates typically open around two hours before kickoff, and the walkways can fill up quickly when demand is high.
Inside the stadium sits the Musée des Verts, a small museum dedicated to the history of AS Saint-Étienne and displaying shirts, trophies, and photographs from the club's successful decades. Visitors can tour the museum on most weekdays and, during guided visits, also enter areas normally closed to the public.
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