Parc des Princes

The Parc des Princes (, Princes' Park) is a stadium located in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, France, currently the home of football team Paris Saint-Germain, with a seating capacity of 48,712. Originally a velodrome, it was the finish of the Tour de France from the first event in 1903 until the track's demolition in the late 1960s. It was also previously the national stadium until the Stade de France was built for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The Parc des Princes stadium and grounds are owned by the City of Paris. The name Parc des Princes was given to the surrounding area during the 18th century, when it was a forest used by the royal family for hunting.

Officially opened on 4 June 1972, the Parc des Princes has always been somewhat ahead of its time. As a result, while the rest of France launches itself into a programme of stadium renovations, the ground based in Porte de Saint-Cloud still stands up well to current standards. It was conceived by architect Roger Taillibert and is built from concrete. It is capable of seating 48,712. Its average attendance for this term has been 43,000. It also hosts concerts from famous artists like Green Day. The stadium is served by two stations on the Paris Métro: Porte de Saint-Cloud and Porte d'Auteuil.

Velodrome

In one corner of the 19th century Parc des Princes was a laboratory. It was demolished in 1897 and the site became a sports stadium. It was so quickly and badly built that spectators were denied...
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