Stade Félix Bollaert
Encyclopedia
Stade Félix Bollaert is the main football stadium in Lens
, France
, that was built in 1932. It is the home of RC Lens
. The stadium's capacity is 41,233 – about 4,000 more than the city's population. This is similar to that of SC Heerenveen ground the Abe Lenstra Stadion
which has a bigger capacity than Heerenveen
itself. It owes its name to Commercial Director of the Compagnie des Mines de Lens who was anxious to promote the development of sports clubs in the city and decided the construction in 1931, though he died shortly before the stadium's inauguration.
All parts of the stadium contain seating. However, most supporters in the Marek stand as it is considered the kop. As in many other stadiums, the most fervent fans tend to sit behind the nets.
Lens, Pas-de-Calais
Lens is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is one of France's large Picarde cities along with Lille, Valenciennes, Amiens, Roubaix, Tourcoing, Arras, and Douai.-Metropolitan area:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, that was built in 1932. It is the home of RC Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
. The stadium's capacity is 41,233 – about 4,000 more than the city's population. This is similar to that of SC Heerenveen ground the Abe Lenstra Stadion
Abe Lenstra Stadion
Abe Lenstra Stadion is a football stadium in Heerenveen, Netherlands. It is currently used mostly for the home matches of Eredivisie club Heerenveen.The current capacity is 26,000.-The name Abe Lenstra Stadion:...
which has a bigger capacity than Heerenveen
Heerenveen
Heerenveen is a town in the Heerenveen municipality of the province of Friesland , in the north of the Netherlands.- History :The town was established in 1551 by three lords as a location for the purpose of digging peat which was used for fuel, hence the name...
itself. It owes its name to Commercial Director of the Compagnie des Mines de Lens who was anxious to promote the development of sports clubs in the city and decided the construction in 1931, though he died shortly before the stadium's inauguration.
History
The stadium has hosted matches in the following major international tournaments:- 1984 European Championship
- 1998 FIFA World Cup1998 FIFA World CupThe 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
- 1999 Rugby World Cup1999 Rugby World CupThe 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup, and the first to be held in rugby union's professional era. The principal host nation was Wales, although the majority of matches were played outside the country, shared between England, France, Scotland and Ireland...
- 2007 Rugby World Cup2007 Rugby World CupThe 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
Architecture
Bollaert is constructed in the English style with four separate stands dedicated respectively to:- Henri Trannin: native of Bully-les-MinesBully-les-MinesBully-les-Mines is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais département in northern France, seat of the canton in the arrondissement of Lens. It forms part of the Lens-Liévin urban area, which encompasses thirty-six French communes and 250,000 inhabitants..-History:...
, Goalkeeper at the club for 18 years, sports director for Lens from 1952 to 1956, passing away in July 1974; it was dedicated on 4 December 1976 - Tony Marek, former player and coach, international in the 50's
- Élie Delacourt, former fans' group president;
- Max Lepagnot, former president of the district of Artois.
All parts of the stadium contain seating. However, most supporters in the Marek stand as it is considered the kop. As in many other stadiums, the most fervent fans tend to sit behind the nets.