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| Stadium Municipal (Toulouse) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Stadium Municipal |
| Fullname | Stadium Municipal de Toulouse |
| Location | Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, Occitanie, France |
| Broke ground | 1937 |
| Opened | 1937 |
| Renovated | 1949, 1998, 2016 |
| Expanded | 1949, 1998, 2016 |
| Owner | Toulouse Métropole |
| Surface | Grass |
| Capacity | 33,150 |
| Record attendance | 46,000 (France v Wales, 1948) |
| Tenants | Toulouse FC, France national rugby union team (occasional), France national football team (occasional) |
Stadium Municipal (Toulouse) Stadium Municipal in Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, Occitanie is a multi-purpose venue primarily used for association football and rugby union. Opened in 1937, it has hosted domestic clubs, national teams and international tournaments, and underwent major upgrades for the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament. The stadium is owned by Toulouse Métropole and serves as the home ground of Toulouse FC.
The site was developed in the 1930s amid municipal projects led by the Third French Republic and local authorities in Haute-Garonne, opening in 1937 during an era shaped by figures like Édouard Daladier and events such as the Spanish Civil War that affected regional planning. Post‑World War II reconstruction linked to national initiatives and the Fourth French Republic resulted in 1949 alterations influenced by architects familiar with projects in Paris and Lyon. Throughout the late 20th century, the stadium hosted fixtures involving FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Juventus F.C., and touring sides from Argentina, reflecting intersections with clubs like River Plate and Boca Juniors. The 1998 FIFA World Cup in France and the 2007 Rugby World Cup spotlighted French venues, prompting renovations at municipal stadia including Toulouse’s, later culminating in the 2016 upgrade for UEFA Euro 2016 under national overseers and regional politicians from Occitanie.
The stadium's seating bowl, corporate suites and pitch drainage were redesigned in phases by firms that have worked on projects in Nice, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Lille. Structural elements echo modernizations seen at Stade de France and Parc des Princes, with roofing details comparable to renovations at Allianz Riviera and Groupama Stadium. Facilities include locker rooms used by teams such as Toulouse FC and visiting sides like Paris Saint-Germain F.C., medical suites compliant with standards from FIFA and World Rugby, and media zones used by broadcasters such as TF1, France Télévisions, BBC Sport, and Sky Sports. Accessibility features align with legislation inspired by European Union directives and French laws enacted in Paris and administered by Toulouse Métropole.
Home to Toulouse FC since its foundation, the stadium has staged matches in competitions including Ligue 1, Ligue 2, Coupe de France, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds featuring opponents such as FC Porto and SL Benfica. Rugby fixtures have seen clubs like Stade Toulousain and international sides including New Zealand All Blacks, South Africa national rugby union team, England national rugby union team, and Ireland national rugby union team. National team matches have involved the France national football team and the France national rugby union team in friendlies and qualifiers for tournaments like the FIFA World Cup and Six Nations Championship.
Preparing for UEFA Euro 2016, held across France with finals in Saint-Denis at Stade de France, Toulouse's municipal stadium underwent capacity, safety and hospitality upgrades mandated by UEFA. Contractors with portfolios including work at Estádio do Dragão and San Siro executed seating reconfiguration, VIP area enhancement for delegations from federations like Royal Spanish Football Federation and Italian Football Federation, and pitch improvements aligned with guidelines from UEFA and FIFA. The renovation was part of broader regional investments alongside projects in Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, and Saint-Étienne.
Historical attendance peaks included matches featuring national selections such as France national football team v Wales national football team and high-demand club friendlies against Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona, where crowd figures historically exceeded modern capacities, with a record cited for a 1948 fixture. Contemporary capacity is approximately 33,150 for football, with adjustments for rugby and concerts that have drawn artists like Sting, Coldplay, The Rolling Stones, and U2. Ticketing operations coordinate with agencies such as Fnac, Ticketmaster, and local vendors in Toulouse.
The stadium is served by Toulouse transport networks including the Tisséo system, nearby tram stops on lines connecting to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, and bus routes linking to major rail hubs like Gare de Toulouse-Matabiau. Road access via the A61 and regional routes connects to cities such as Montpellier, Bordeaux, Carcassonne, and Albi. Proximity to landmarks like Place du Capitole situates the venue within municipal planning coordinated by Toulouse Métropole authorities and regional bodies in Occitanie.
Beyond sport, the stadium has hosted concerts featuring international acts including Madonna, Coldplay, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and Rihanna, as well as mass gatherings tied to events associated with organizations such as UNESCO and cultural festivals in Toulouse and Occitanie. The venue has been used for corporate events by companies like Airbus, film premieres with participation from French studios in Cannes Film Festival delegations, and charity matches involving entities such as UNICEF and Red Cross affiliates.
Category:Football venues in France Category:Sports venues in Haute-Garonne Category:Buildings and structures in Toulouse