Concert at Stade de France Shifts Focus: Awaiting Rock Legends AC/DC, it Accommodates K-Pop Phenoms Blackpink Instead
The Stade de France, France's national stadium, is set for a new era as the Lyon-based group GL Events takes over the concession from Vinci-Bouygues, starting August 5. This move follows the end of a 30-year concession and marks a shift towards expanding and diversifying the event portfolio of the iconic stadium.
The handover is "complicated" and not being officially mentioned due to ongoing legal appeals by the evicted concessionaire. Despite the complexities, the new management approach is clear: maximizing event variety and frequency, optimizing operational efficiency, fostering long-term relationships with major event promoters and local sports clubs, and maintaining employment levels for the stadium's staff.
Under GL Events, the Stade de France will continue to host major national football and rugby matches. However, there is a strong emphasis on increasing the variety and volume of events. This includes introducing new sports such as baseball and American football, a museum, a new restaurant, and an immersive music hall.
The new management aims to promote local talent and long-running productions, suggesting ongoing opportunities and stability for staff involved in operations, event production, and promotions. High-profile concerts remain a key element, with record-breaking events like Beyoncé’s sold-out shows indicating that concert business remains strong and a priority under new management.
GL Events has agreed with the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the Rugby League for five matches per year with more favorable economic conditions. There is currently no agreement with the FFF for the Stade de France, where the French team was crowned champions in 1998.
The management of the Stade de France will end with the concerts of the South Korean K-Pop group Blackpink on August 2 and 3, 2025. GL Events will take over a part of the staff of the Stade de France Consortium, which has over a hundred employees.
Christophe Cizeron, General Director of the "Venues" Branch of GL Events, aims for satisfied artists and visitors at the concerts. Olivier Ginon, the President of GL Events, is reputed to be close to Emmanuel Macron according to several sources.
The transfer of the stadium's keys was delayed due to legal appeals by the evicted concessionaire. The concession of the Stade de France, rushed through between the two rounds of the 1995 presidential election, proved costly to the State with legal disputes and various compensations. Approximately 120 million euros of investment are planned for the Stade de France, without interrupting activity.
Alexandra Boutelier, the head of the evicted consortium for 12 years, said a goodbye in the July newsletter of the Stade de France. She is confident that the Stade de France will continue to embody unique, unifying, and unforgettable emotions. The total public spending on the stadium and associated infrastructure amounts to €778 million according to the Court of Auditors in 2018.
GL Events has successfully exploited certain sites of the Paris Olympics and aims for a successful integration with the staff and the success of the upcoming AC/DC concerts on August 9 and 13. The main objective for GL Events is a satisfied audience and a thriving stadium that continues to be a symbol of French sporting and cultural heritage.
[1] Source: Les Echos [2] Source: Le Monde [3] Source: Le Figaro [4] Source: L'Equipe
- In a bid to revamp the Stade de France, the new management, GL Events, plans to expand its event portfolio by introducing new sports such as baseball and American football, establishing a museum, a new restaurant, and an immersive music hall, with a strong emphasis on local talent and long-running productions.
- To ensure the Stade de France remains a hub of pop-culture, the government, through GL Events, aims to optimize operational efficiency, foster long-term relationships with major event promoters, local sports clubs, and promote high-profile concerts, like those of Beyoncé and upcoming AC/DC shows, all while maintaining employment levels.
