Stade Louis II, Football stadium in Fontvieille, Monaco.
Stade Louis II is a football stadium in the Fontvieille district of Monaco, marked by nine arches at one end and a hybrid turf measuring around 105 by 68 meters (344 by 223 feet). Beneath the playing field, several levels house sports facilities, including a swimming pool and training areas, built into the hillside.
Prince Rainier III launched the construction of a new facility in 1979 to replace the original stadium dating from 1939. Work continued until the official opening in January 1985, which introduced a modern venue that also included underground sports areas.
The stadium's name honours Louis II, the prince who had the original 1939 stadium built; the present arena was inaugurated on 25 January 1985 by Rainier III. Since 1987 it has hosted the Herculis athletics meeting, part of the Diamond League since 2010, and from 1998 to 2012 it staged 15 UEFA Super Cup matches. The nine arches at the away end were designed by Henri Pottier for ventilation.
The stadium sits in the Fontvieille district at the edge of the principality and is easily reached on foot or by public transport from most points in Monaco. Visitors will find a multilevel underground car park directly beneath the site, making arrival by car straightforward as well.
The nine arches at the away end are not decorative: they were designed by architect Henri Pottier to ventilate the ground, and they give the stand its shape. The pitch itself rests on the roof of the car park, 8.35 m above street level, which is why AS Monaco uses a mobile lighting rig to keep the grass in condition.
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