Stade de Saint-Jean explained

Stadium Name:Stade de Saint-Jean
Fullname:Stade de Saint-Jean
Location:Saint-Jean, Saint Barthélemy
Capacity:1,000 (400 main stand)
Surface:Artificial turf
Tenants:Saint Barthélemy national football team

Stade de Saint-Jean is a multi-purpose stadium in the Saint-Jean quarter of Saint Barthélemy, an overseas collectivity of France in the Caribbean. It is the only stadium on the island and currently hosts matches of local rugby teams and the Saint Barthélemy national football team.[1]

History

The stadium was originally constructed sometime before 1979 and regularly had poor soil and grass conditions.[1] In 2010, Roman Abramovich, Russian billionaire and owner of Chelsea F.C., purchased personal property on the island and donated a reported 3 million euros to renovate the stadium. The renovation included the installation of artificial turf and an athletic track. Shortly after completion, the stadium was inaugurated with a celebrity football match which included former professionals Robert Pires and José Touré and formula one racer Paul Belmondo.[2]

The reconstruction of the stadium and addition of an adjacent resort for visiting teams allowed the Saint Barthélemy national football team to play its first home match in 2010 against Saint Martin.[3] These upgrades were again paid for by Abramovich following Hurricane Irma.[4]

References

17.902°N -62.8417°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lucot. Cécile. Pose d'une pelouse au stade de St-Jean. st-barths.com. 12 February 2014. French.
  2. Web site: Robert Pirès, José Touré, Paul Belmondo et Jean-Claude Darmon : un match à St-Barth, juste pour le plaisir !. purepeople.com. 12 February 2014.
  3. Web site: Roman Abramovich and Caribbean Football Union plan tournament on Saint-Barthélemy. 2 February 2014 . nonfifafootball.blogspot.com. 12 February 2014.
  4. Web site: Menary . Steve . Abramovich Shows Dedication To Saint Barthélemy . 17 May 2019 . World Soccer . 16 August 2021.