French football club Olympique Lyonnais will open the doors to its new 59,000-capacity stadium this weekend – with the aid of music star will.i.am.
The Populous-designed Grande Stade will host its first professional match when the home side takes on Troyes at 5pm tomorrow (9 January) in the French Ligue 1. The arena has been earmarked to host six matches of the upcoming Euro 2016, including a semi-final game.
Costing an estimated €350m-€450m (£260.1m-£334.4m, US$380.3m-US$489m), the development includes sporting facilities, two hotels, a leisure centre, commercial and business offices and a museum. It is based in the Decines-Charpieu district of Lyon.
The club has also partnered with French telecommunications network Orange to build a private Wifi network which will allow 20,000 people to be connected to the internet.
Following the match against Troyes, will.i.am will perform a 45-minute DJ set, while entertainment will be available before kick-off in the shape of live music, dance and games for children.
“The inauguration will feature everything we can do at the new Grand Stade complex,” said Olympique Lyonnais president, Jean-Michel Aulas. “will.i.am is a global star. It’s a great source of pride to host this great American superstar. There will also be a great number of personalities from the world of football.”
The seven-time French champions previously played at the Stade de Gerland between 1926 and 2015.
