Stade Marcel Saupin
Encyclopedia
The Stade Marcel-Saupin is a sports complex in the city of Nantes
(Loire-Atlantique
), France
. It was opened in 1937 under the name Stade Malakoff, and was used primarily by the rugby union
Stade nantais université club, then became the stadium of FC Nantes after World War II
until the club moved to the Stade de la Beaujoire
in 1984.
, the stadium was renovated and enlarged for 25 000 spectators. In May 1965, it was renamed Marcel-Saupin, after the recently-deceased president and founding member of FC Nantes, despite his links to collaborators during World War II. The unfavourable location of the stadium, wedged between the Loire
and the urban centre, limited its expansion to 29 500 spectators in the 1970s, despite the increasing popularity of the club.
For more than twenty years, "Saupin" was one of the legendary stadiums of French football
, following the success of FC Nantes. From the fireworks of Philippe Gondet
and Jacky Simon to the championship matches between Nantes and AS Saint-Etienne
, and touch matches with old Atlantic rivals Girondins de Bordeaux, it was there the Canaries wrote the most glorious chapters of their history with six French championship titles, their first Coupe de France
, and a European semi-final
in 1980. The French national team
also played there many times in the early 1970s before their resurgence in popularly forced them to play most of their matches at the Parc des Princes
in Paris
.
After a final title in 1983, FC Nantes said goodbye to Saupin on April 28, 1984, after which they moved to Beaujoire, a modern stadium constructed for the 1984 European championship, hosted by France. Saupin became the stadium of the Nantes reserve team.
As part of an urban renewal project led by the Parisian architect Philippe Gazeau, the stadium was largely demolished in August 2006. Only the north stands, which are now named after Oscar Muller, and the field were preserved so that the reserve team would still be able to play there. The rest of the site houses the Maison des sciences de l'homme and the Institut d'études advancées of the University of Nantes
, a hotel-residence, and corporate offices.
On 10 October, 2009, Nantes hosted FC Blois in a CFA2 match, the first game in the new Stade Marcel-Saupin. Nantes defeated Blois 1-0 in front of 760 spectators.
, Joan Baez
, and Carlos Santana
played a festival at the stadium.
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
(Loire-Atlantique
Loire-Atlantique
Loire-Atlantique is a department on the west coast of France named after the Loire River and the Atlantic Ocean.-History:...
), 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...
. It was opened in 1937 under the name Stade Malakoff, and was used primarily by the rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
Stade nantais université club, then became the stadium of FC Nantes after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
until the club moved to the Stade de la Beaujoire
Stade de la Beaujoire
The Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau, or "Stade de la Beaujoire", is a stadium in Nantes, France. It is the home of the FC Nantes football club....
in 1984.
History
At first, the stadium did not have lights for night matches; these were not installed until 1957. There was room for 14 000 spectators, but there were only 1200 seats. When FC Nantes was promoted to Ligue 1Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
, the stadium was renovated and enlarged for 25 000 spectators. In May 1965, it was renamed Marcel-Saupin, after the recently-deceased president and founding member of FC Nantes, despite his links to collaborators during World War II. The unfavourable location of the stadium, wedged between the Loire
Loire
Loire is an administrative department in the east-central part of France occupying the River Loire's upper reaches.-History:Loire was created in 1793 when after just 3½ years the young Rhône-et-Loire department was split into two. This was a response to counter-Revolutionary activities in Lyon...
and the urban centre, limited its expansion to 29 500 spectators in the 1970s, despite the increasing popularity of the club.
For more than twenty years, "Saupin" was one of the legendary stadiums of French football
Football in France
Football is the most popular sport in France. The Fédération Française de Football is the national governing bodyand is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game of association football in the country, both professional and amateur...
, following the success of FC Nantes. From the fireworks of Philippe Gondet
Philippe Gondet
Philippe Gondet Philippe Gondet Philippe Gondet (born 17 May 1942 is a French former football striker.He played for France during FIFA World Cup 1966 in England.-External links:**...
and Jacky Simon to the championship matches between Nantes and AS Saint-Etienne
AS Saint-Étienne
Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire is a French association football club based in Saint-Étienne. The club was founded in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Saint-Étienne plays its home matches at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard located within the city...
, and touch matches with old Atlantic rivals Girondins de Bordeaux, it was there the Canaries wrote the most glorious chapters of their history with six French championship titles, their first Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
, and a European semi-final
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
in 1980. The French national team
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
also played there many times in the early 1970s before their resurgence in popularly forced them to play most of their matches at the Parc des Princes
Parc des Princes
The Parc des Princes is an all-seater football stadium located in the southwest of Paris, France. The venue, with a seating capacity of 48,712 spectators, has been the home of French football club Paris Saint-Germain since 1974. The current Parc des Princes was inaugurated on 4 June 1972, endowed...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
After a final title in 1983, FC Nantes said goodbye to Saupin on April 28, 1984, after which they moved to Beaujoire, a modern stadium constructed for the 1984 European championship, hosted by France. Saupin became the stadium of the Nantes reserve team.
As part of an urban renewal project led by the Parisian architect Philippe Gazeau, the stadium was largely demolished in August 2006. Only the north stands, which are now named after Oscar Muller, and the field were preserved so that the reserve team would still be able to play there. The rest of the site houses the Maison des sciences de l'homme and the Institut d'études advancées of the University of Nantes
University of Nantes
The University of Nantes is a well-known French university, located in the city of Nantes. Currently, it is attended by approximately 34,000 students. 10% of them are international students coming from 110 countries.-History:...
, a hotel-residence, and corporate offices.
On 10 October, 2009, Nantes hosted FC Blois in a CFA2 match, the first game in the new Stade Marcel-Saupin. Nantes defeated Blois 1-0 in front of 760 spectators.
Concerts
In 1984, Bob DylanBob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
, and Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
played a festival at the stadium.