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The Paris region has the Stade de France, but there are also plans for a "grand stadium" in Marseille, the city where football is virtually a religion. Although new foundations will not be laid, the stadium is to undergo a complete facelift, making it a "new stadium," designed as a vast domain devoted to games and sport and part of the city itself.
VELODROME stadium figures
Location:
Right in the heart of the city. First inaugurated:
June 13, 1937 Capacity before
renovation:42,000, of which 10,000 standing Capacity in 1998: 60,000 seats ALTERATIONS
Renovation operations:
Upgraded to comply with World Cup standards for fittings, lighting, sound system, signs, score display fixture and video-surveillance. Modernisation of the changing rooms and boxes. Press conference room, permanent press centre and catering areas to be built.
Reconstruction
operations:Increased capacity by rebuilding the stands and surrounds. Construction of 32 km stands. Date of completion:
January 1998 Inauguration of renovated
stadium:Spring 1998 Architect: Jean-Pierre BUFFI
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Photos SAOLA
MARSEILLE:
June madness in 1984
Marseille's Stade Vélodrome is always full to bursting: the supporters of Olympique de Marseille are without any shadow of a doubt the most loyal in France. But the people of Marseille have also shown sterling support for good football in general. For instance, in 1938 there was a crowd of nearly 35,000 for the Italy-Brazil semi-final. The high point, however, as far as international matches at Marseille are concerned, came on 23 June 1984, when France played Portugal in the semi-final of the European Nations Cup.
In extra-time France was trailing 2-1 to a very impressive Portuguese side with just 5 minutes to go. But lifted by the crowd, the French players refused to capitulate, and equalised 115 minutes into the game with a goal from Domergue. Then one minute from the end, Tigana took on one Portugese defender after another and crossed for Platini to score the winner past Bento. The French TV commentator and all the fans in the Stadium practically wept with joy.