Stadium de Toulouse explained

Stadium Name:Stadium de Toulouse
Fullname:Stade de Toulouse
Location:1, Allée Gabriel Biènés, Toulouse, France
Coordinates:43.5831°N 1.4342°W
Opened:1937
Renovated:1949, 1998 and 2016
Owner:Mairie de Toulouse
Surface:AirFibr (hybrid grass)
Tenants:Toulouse FC (1970-present)
Stade Toulousain (selected matches)
Seating Capacity:33,150[1] (after most recent renovation works)

Stadium de Toulouse, previously named Stadium Municipal, is the largest multi-purpose stadium in Toulouse, France. It is currently used mostly for football matches, mainly those of the Toulouse Football Club, as well as rugby matches for Stade Toulousain in the European Rugby Champions Cup or Top 14. It is located on the island of Ramier near the centre of Toulouse. It is a pure football and rugby ground, and therefore has no athletics track surrounding the field. The stadium is able to hold 33,150 people.[2]

History

The stadium was built in 1937 for the 1938 FIFA World Cup (but again under construction, the World Cup matches were played in the Stade du T.O.E.C., 4 kilometers further North) and has undergone two extensive renovations, in 1949 and 1997.

The stadium staged six matches during the 1998 FIFA World Cup.[3]

It was also used as a host venue during the 2007 Rugby World Cup for games such as Japan-Fiji, won by the latter 35–31. On 13 November 2009 the stadium hosted international rugby again when France hosted South Africa. At the time, South Africa were leading the series by 20 wins to 10 (6 drawn).[4]

Michael Jackson performed in front of 40,000 people during his Dangerous World Tour on 16 September 1992.[5]

Transport

The stadium is served by two bus stops (West and East), where Tisséo buses L4 (Cours Dillon-Basso Cambo), 34 (Arènes-Université Paul Sabatier), L5 (Empalot-Roques/Roquettes) and 152 (Empalot-Roques/IUC) stop. Shuttle buses operate on match days from Esquirol metro (Line A), and the stadium is also a short walk (~10 mins) from metro stations Empalot and Saint Michel-Marcel Langer (Line B). It is also near the Croix de Pierre stop of the newly extended Toulouse tramway.[6]

Tournament results

1938 FIFA World Cup

The stadium was initially one of the venues of the 1938 FIFA World Cup but again under construction, the matches were played in the Stade du T.O.E.C. in Toulouse too.

1998 FIFA World Cup

The stadium was one of the venues of the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and held the following matches:

DateTeam #1ResultTeam #2PoolAttendance
11 June 1998 1–1 33,500
14 June 1998 1–0
18 June 1998 1–1
22 June 1998 2–1
24 June 1998 1–3
29 June 1998 2–1

2007 Rugby World Cup

The stadium was one of the venues for rugby union's 2007 World Cup

DatePoolHome teamAway teamAttendance
12 September 2007 31 35 34,500
16 September 2007 87 10 35,339
25 September 2007 14 10 35,526
29 September 2007 85 8 35,608

UEFA Euro 2016

The stadium was one of the venues of UEFA Euro 2016, and hosted the following matches:

DateTime (CET)Team #1ResultTeam #2RoundAttendance
13 June 2016 15:00 1–0 Group D 29,400
17 June 2016 15:00 1–0Group E 29,600
20 June 2016 21:00 0–3 Group B 28,840
26 June 2016 21:00 0–4 Round of 16 28,921

2023 Rugby World Cup matches

DateTime (CET)Team #1ResultTeam #2RoundAttendance
10 September 2023 13:00 42–12 30,187
15 September 2023 21:00 71–3 31,996
23 September 2023 14:00 18–18 31,889
28 September 2023 21:00 28–22 31,794
8 October 2023 21:00 23–24 32,223

Rugby League Test matches

Stadium Municipal has hosted 14 rugby league internationals, 13 of them involving the France national team, since 1953.[7]

Test# Date Result Attendance Notes
1 18 October 1953 Other Nationalities def. 15–10 12,190 1953–54 European Rugby League Championship
2 7 November 1954 drew with 13–13 37,471 1954 Rugby League World Cup
3 8 January 1956 def. 24–7 10,184 1956 France vs New Zealand series
4 3 November 1957 def. 25–14 15,762
5 6 March 1960 def. 20–18 15,762
6 2 February 1969 def. 14–9 15,536
7 28 November 1971 drew with 3–3 5,000 1971 France vs New Zealand series
8 2 February 1972 def. 10–9 11,508
9 5 November 1972 def. 31–9 10,332 1972 Rugby League World Cup
10 2 March 1975 def. 14–7 7,563 1975 Rugby League World Cup
11 7 December 1980 def. 11–3 3,000 1980 France vs New Zealand series
12 5 November 2000 def. 56–6 7,969 2000 Rugby League World Cup Group 3
13 6 November 2000 def. 30–22 3,666
14 18 November 2005 def. 38–22 12,500 2005 France vs New Zealand

Fronton facilities

Stadium de Toulouse is also home to several fronton walls on the stadium campus, which are used for local handball/pelota sports. Most recently, in August 2022, it played host to an international One-Wall handball/Wallball tournament, the 2022 French Open, part of the European 1-Wall Tour, with Great Britain's Dan Grant winning the Men's Open title and Helena Hernanz Sanchez of France winning the Women's Open title. The 2022 Open was organised with the help and support of the Tolosa Gaels GAA Club and the local Government.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Restructuration du Stadium de Toulouse pour l'Euro 2016. 22 August 2013. projets-architecte-urbanisme.fr. 4 April 2018.
  2. Web site: Football stadiums of the world – Stadium List Europe - Football stadiums of the world. www.fussballtempel.net. 4 April 2018.
  3. Web site: France 1998 World Cup matches, by Stadium. Toulouse: Stadium Municipal. 1800-WorldCup.com. TravelNotes.org. 5 October 2012.
  4. http://www.ticketbooth.org.uk/rugby-tickets/games/France-South-Africa-rugby-tickets.php France v South Africa 2009
  5. Web site: Michael Jackson Returns Twice to Toulouse. 29 June 2011 . . 11 November 2018 . Michael Jackson only came once to Toulouse, on September 16, 1992. It was at the Stadium in front of 40,000 spectators..
  6. http://www.tisseo.fr/sites/default/files/plan_detaille_reseau.pdf Tisséo Toulouse transport network
  7. Web site: Stade Municipal - Results - Rugby League Project. Shawn Dollin and Andrew. Ferguson. www.rugbyleagueproject.org. 4 April 2018.