Stade Bollaert-Delelis

Stade Bollaert-Delelis

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Full name	Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Location	Lens, France
Coordinates
Capacity	38,223 (after renovation)
Construction
Opened	1933
Renovated	2014-2015
Tenants
RC Lens

Stade Bollaert-Delelis (French pronunciation: ​[stad bɔlaʁt dəlelis]) is the main football stadium in Lens, France, that was built in 1933. It is the home of RC Lens. The stadium's capacity is 41,229 – about 4,000 more than the city's population. The stadium was originally named after Félix Bollaert, a director of Compagnie des Mines de Lens, who was anxious to promote the development of sports clubs in the city. Construction began in 1931, though Bollaert died shortly before the stadium's inauguration. It was renamed Stade Bollaert-Delelis in 2012 after the death of André Delelis, a politician who served as the Minister of Commerce under President François Mitterrand.

History

The stadium has hosted matches in the following major international tournaments:

• 1984 European Championship
• 1998 FIFA World Cup
• 1999 Rugby World Cup
• 2007 Rugby World Cup
• 2016 European Championship

Architecture

The renovated stadium.

The stadium is constructed in the English style with four separate stands dedicated respectively to:

• Henri Trannin, native of Bully-les-Mines, 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, being a side stand, keep standing during the games as it is considered the kop and are considered as the most fervent supporters in the stadium, which makes the stadium different from most of the other stadiums, as the most fervent fans tend to usually sit behind the nets.

Events

1984 European Football Championship

Date	Team #1	Res.	Team #2	Round
13 Jun 1984	Belgium	2-0	Yugoslavia	Group A
17 Jun 1984	West Germany	2-1	Romania	Group B

1998 FIFA World Cup

The stadium was one of the venues of the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and held the following matches:

Date	Team #1	Res.	Team #2	Round
12 Jun 1998	Saudi Arabia	0-1	Denmark	Group C
14 Jun 1998	Jamaica	1-3	Croatia	Group H
21 Jun 1998	Germany	2-2	Yugoslavia	Group F
24 Jun 1998	Spain	6-1	Bulgaria	Group D
26 Jun 1998	Colombia	0-2	England	Group G
28 Jun 1998	France	1-0	Paraguay	Round of 16

1999 Rugby World Cup

Date	Team #1	Res.	Team #2	Round
20 Oct 1999	Ireland	24-28	Argentina	Play-off Stage

2007 Rugby World Cup

Date	Team #1	Res.	Team #2	Round
08 Sep 2007	England	28-10	United States	Group A
22 Sep 2007	South Africa	30-25	Tonga	Group A
26 Sep 2007	Georgia	30-0	Namibia	Group D

2016 European Football Championship

In May 2011, the stadium has been designated to host the 2016 European Football Championship. To be renovated, the stadium will be closed during the 2014-2015 season.

Date	Time (CET)	Team #1	Result	Team #2	Round	Attendance
11 June 2016	15:00	Albania	v	Switzerland	Group A
16 June 2016	15:00	England	v	Wales	Group B
21 June 2016	21:00	Czech Republic	v	Turkey	Group D
25 June 2016	21:00	Winner Group D	v	3rd Place Group B/E/F	Round of 16

Other uses

The France national team has played eight matches at the stadium without defeat. Lille played two UEFA Champions League campaigns there when their own stadium was deemed inadequate, in (2001-02 and 2006-07). It hosted the Johnny Hallyday concert in 2009 and a Jehovah's Witnesses gathering in 2006, which created controversy. The stadium is the setting for a scene in the movie Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis, shot during a match between Lens and Nice in April 2007. We hear "Les corons" sung by the public at the end of halftime song.

In 2012 the Stadium held a rugby League match between France and Wales as part of an Autumn International Series match. 11,278 fans came to watch the game.

External links

• Stade Félix-Bollaert on www.sitercl.com