Park of the Princes

|- | colspan=" 2" style=" text-align: center; padding: 0.5em; " bgcolor=" white" | |- | initial Construction | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| 1897 |- | Current form since | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| 1972 |- | Capacity | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| 44.500 sitted places |- | Colors of the Seats | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| red and blue |- | Nickname | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| the Park |- | Platforms: | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| |- | Official | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| Presidential |- | Side | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| Paris |- | Popular south | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| Boulogne |- | Popular north | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| Auteuil |- | Multitude record | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| 49.575 spectators
(March 2nd 1983,
PSG-Waterschei) |- | Platform of press | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| 338 places |- | Places VIP | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| 230 places |- | Lighting | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| 1500 luxes |- | Address | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| 24, rue du
Commandant Guilbaud
75016 Paris |- | Club resides | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| |} The Parc of the Princes is a stage located at the south-west of the town of Paris, in the XVI {{E}} district, and on the Parisian peripheral . Property of the Town of Paris, the stage is in concession with the SESE, a company subsidiary of Canal+, yielded in June 2006 at the time of the sale of PSG to funds of American investment (Colony Capital), to funds of French investment (Butler) and at an US bank (Morgan Stanley).

The first Park was inaugurated the July 18th 1897 under the name of “Stage-cycle-racing track of the Park of the Princes”, but the current enclosure signed by the architect Roger Taillibert date of 1972.

Its club resident current is the Paris Saint-Germain since 1974. RC Paris remained there of 1984 with 1990, the Paris FC of 1972 to 1974 then in 1978 - 1979. This relates to the enclosure of 1972, because before this date, RC Paris (1932 - 1966) and the French Stade (1945 -1966) were resident with the Park. The team of France of football and the team of France of Rugby to XV also used this stage before the inauguration of the Stade de France in January 1998.

History

The Park of the Princes, since his construction, was twice Olympic site , stage host of two Football world cup, two finales of the Euro, of which that of the first edition, three finales of the Coupe of the clubs European champions, of which that of the first edition, 54 final arrivals of the Tour de France, of which that of the first edition, 59 matches of the Five Nations tournament, 127 matches of the team of France of Football, 33 finales of Coupe de France of football, 31 finales of the Championnat of France of Rugby, the final of the first edition of the World cup of Rugby to XIII, first tele sporting report on line in France, and even of the championships of the world of Boxing or the musical productions.

The site before 1897

The stage of the Park of the Princes owes his name has a wooded space located between the Bois de Boulogne and the Door of Saint-Cloud who was used as of the 18th century like a place of relaxation, hunting and walk snuffed by the royal king and princes. This character is reinforced during first half of the 19th century with the adoption by the Parisian middle-class of these pleasures formerly reserved for the nobility. Purely natural until in 1855, the site knows its first urban installations with the boring of a road giving the kickoff of the development of the future district of the Park of the Princes. It seems that the name of “Park of the Princes” makes his appearance at this period by taking again the terms of Road of the Princes and Door of the Princes, of use as of the 18th century. The Park is not on the territory of the town of Paris but after the annexation of the communes bordering wanted by Napoleon III in 1860, the site is found with horse on the territories of Paris and Boulogne-Billancourt.

In 1882, a station of scientific study called “Physiological Station of the Park of the Princes” is installed on the site, near current the Stade Roland-Garros. Etienne-Jules Marey undertakes research to it on the Chronophotographie. This institute was destroyed in 1979 to allow the extension of Roland-Garros. Thus, the Park of the Princes was a vast space which was not limited only to the few hectares of the influence of the current stage.

The first Park (1897-1932)

The Stage-cycle-racing track of the Park of the Princes is inaugurated the July 18th 1897. At the time of this inauguration, the access to the platforms however is prohibited by prefectoral decision! Made with haste, these platforms worry the authorities which will grant their green light only after work of reinforcement.

The enclosure of origin counts 3200 sitted places and is girdled by a track 666,66 meters length cyclist. Henri Desgrange, then chronicler with directing Bicycle then of the Car-Bicycle starting from the October 16th 1900, is the director. In 1903, Desgrange sets up the Tour de France which will complete its course on the track of the Park until in 1967. The Cyclisme on track is besides the sport high-speed motorboat with the Park and the track of the Door of Saint-Cloud accommodates the Championnats of the world of cycling on track in 1900.

The February 28th 1899, the semi-final of the Championnat of France of football USFSA is held with the Park: Le Havre AC 1, Iris Club Inhabitant of Lille 0. It is the first football game disputed officially with the Park. The finales of the championship USFSA 1903, 1905, 1907 and 1910 also take place with the Park.

The XV of France argument its first official meeting vis-a-vis the All Blacks on January 1st 1906, on the lawn of the Park in front of more than 3000 spectators. The first official match of the team of France of football played on the French soil is also held with the Park. The February 12th 1905, the French are essential 2-0 vis-a-vis the Suisse.

In front of the success of the demonstrations presented, the capacity of the Park is carried in 10.000 places as of before the First World War. After the conflict, the behavior of the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924 makes it possible the Park to be still increased (20 000 places). The Park, Doves and Pershing were candidates with the statute of principal Olympic stadium. After animated debates, the French government indicates the Park of the Princes like principal stage of the Plays in 1922, but the Town of Paris refuses to finance work. One evokes even a time a fold of the Plays with Lyon… In the name of a policy of “Large Paris”, and thanks to a financing of the Racing Club of France, the stage of Doves is finally indicated. Doves benefits from it to be equipped with 60.000 places, making the Park obsolete. During one half-century, Colombes will constitute a competitor solid with the Park.

In the tread of the Plays of 1924 where the Park of the Princes, as in 1900, accommodates some Olympic tests, the Town of Paris, owner of the enclosure, signs a forty year old concession contract with the sporting daily newspaper the Car . The rent is assembled to 4% of the receipts.

The second Park (1932-1970)

After 270 workdays, the renovated Park is inaugurated the April 23rd 1932. It offers 45.000 places to its opening, then 40.000, safety and comfort obliges (26 000 sitted places). The platforms have already their current names: Presidential (or Platform of the Car), Paris (or Platform of the Tour de France), Auteuil and Boulogne. Located better than Doves, “the new” Park achieves the unanimity. RC Paris settles there as of the season 1932-33. After the war, the French Stage and the CCP divide the enclosure of the door of Saint-Cloud. On average, the Park accommodates during the three following decades two to three matches of football per week (curtain raisers not included!).

The stage counts a track cyclist out of 454 meters length pink cement. The tunnel of access is located Boulogne platform on the right. During the inauguration of April 1932, only the platforms are built and the stage will be equipped during the following years. The two side platforms are already covered in 1932, but the turns are covered in the middle of the Années 1950. The famous frontages of the stage date from the end of the Années 1930.

The July 25th 1948, the arrival of the Tour de France is retransmise by television on line since the Park of the Princes. Jacques Sallebert ensures the comment of this first sporting report on line apart from the studios of French television.

The Cycling, the Football and the Rugby are not the only sports applied to the Park. The English Boxe also has right there to quote. The French boxer Marcel Thil thus seizes the championship of the world of the average weights to the Park the June 11th 1932 vis-a-vis the American Gorilla Jones.

The first meeting into night disputes the March 26th 1952. Lighting is ensured by 136 or 186 projectors, according to the cases (cycling or football). It is under its conditions that this the final of the Latin Coupe of football the June 29th 1952 holds then the first edition of the finale of the Coupe of Europe of the European champions the June 13rd 1956. At this period, the stage counts 40.550 places: 5000 in platform of the Car, 6000 in platform of the Tour de France, 11.300 places in platforms has, B, C and D, 11.200 places in the turns, 3000 places of benches (chair of track) and 3500 practicable in front of the Auteuil turn.

The November 13rd 1954, the final of the first World cup of Rugby to XIII takes place with the Park and sees the victory of the British over the team of France by 16 to 12 front 30.368 spectators.

The Tour de France and the Cyclisme bid their farewell with the Park in 1967. Raymond Poulidor is the last winner on the pink track of the door of Saint-Cloud at the conclusion of a stage of the Tower disputed against the watch. As of the shortly after this arrival, the demolition of the track cyclist begins. The Ring road of Paris is in construction, and its layout passes just in lower part of the stage. Two of the four platforms are then destroyed in order to leave the place to the building site of the peripheral. During two years, the position of the Town of Paris on the future of the Park is fuzzy. On the other hand, the dissatisfaction with the spectators relayed by the media becomes pressing. The most elementary security conditions are neglected, and machines of building site, beams provisional and other high points are used as wild platforms to the resquilleurs.

The weekly magazine France Football publishes the January 21st 1969 the photograph of the model of the “new” Park of the Princes. Because of the great number of promises not held as regards sporting enclosures in Paris since always (sic), FF specifies in title of its article: “This is not a fish of April”.

The last match with the “old” Park of the Princes already in work since the July 8th 1967 is held the June 14th 1970; It is the finale of the last Championnat of France Amateurs between the Pierrots of Strasbourg and UMS Montélimar in front of 2061 spectators. Strasbougeois Kohler which marked the single goal of this part is the last striker in this enclosure mutilated by work. After this meeting, the stage becomes, for 23 month, a building site prohibited with the public.

The third Park (since 1972)

Roger Taillibert is the architect of the new enclosure. In spite of a doubling of the initial budget, the final invoice of 150 franc million appears very reasonable compared at the stages of the same gauge built at the same period, in particular in Germany. The Park is the first stage of Europe to being equipped with an integral lighting into the roof and none of the 49.700 spectators is with more than 45 meters of a touchline. Criticisms are however numerous: the 164 meters separating the platforms from Auteuil and Boulogne, the absence of carpark and the reduced capacity make jaser. The ideal steepness of a platform is then a subject which impassions the readers of the reviews of football.

The concession with the Car then the Team having expired, the Town of Paris turns to the French federations of Football and Rugby to XV to make the dealers of the Park of them. A 18 years lease is signed the May 25th 1972; It will be then prolonged until in 1988.

The inauguration of the “new” Park of the Princes takes place the May 25th 1972 at the time of the Olympic match of France-USSR football. The final of the Coupe de France of football 1972 which is held with the Park one week later (June 4th 1972) is only the second match disputed in the new enclosure. Finale of the Cut obliges, the president of the Republic Georges Pompidou attends the match, and many sources indicate this meeting like inaugural match of the new enclosure.

Conceived for football and Rugby, the Park accommodates its first the XV on November 1st meeting 1972. The ACE Béziers, double champion of France in title, accommodates the Welsh of Neath RFC for a victory héraultaise 29-17. The January 13rd 1973, the XV of France beats the Scotland there 16-13.

The Paris Saint-Germain evolves/moves for the first time at the new Park of the Princes at the time of a match of championship of D2 vis-a-vis the Red Star played in curtain raiser of a match of D1, Paris FC - Sochaux (November 10th 1973). It is necessary however to wait until July 1974 to see the PSG becoming “club resident” of the Park.

In August 1992, the group Canal+ takes the control of the Development company sports and events (SESE), founded by Jean-Claude Darmon and Perrier, which holds the concession of the Park of the Princes since June 1988. The Paris Saint-Germain will pay from now on his rent with Canal+. 8% of receipts HT of the SESE return to the Town of Paris to the title of the patent of mining claims, with a guaranteed minimum of 4,28 franc million. It is about the average costs of the annual maintenance work to the load of the owner, the City.

Stade de France obliges, the Park accommodates its last final of the Coupe de France of football the May 12th 1997. OGC Nice is the 17th club crowned with the Park at the conclusion of this 33e final of the disputed Coupe Charles Simon Porte of Saint-Cloud against the Breton ones of the In front of Guingamp (2-1).

In the tread, the 126e of the Bleus played to the Park of the Princes takes place the June 11th 1997: France - Italy 2-2. This calculation of 126 meetings takes into account only the matches known as “official”, excluding for example the parts putting at the catches the Blue ones with teams of club.

For its last match with the Park, the XV of France explodes vis-a-vis the South Africa by 10 to 52 (November 22nd 1997). The March 15th of the same year, the Blue ones however celebrated on this same lawn the profit of the Grand Slam at the time of the Tournoi of V nations.

For the reception of the World cup 1998, the Park of the Princes is satisfied with a minimum face lift. The armchairs, after 26 years of service, are changed. The high platforms will be from now on exclusively blue; blue and yellow previously. Cost of this work: 44 franc million to the load of the Town of Paris.

The June 28th 1999, the Town of Paris extends for 15 years additional the patent of mining claims of the Park of the Princes to the SESE. This agreement allows the beginning of renovation works differently more ambitious than at the time of the World cup in 1998. This work is cofinanced by the Town of Paris (78 MF) and by SESE (53 MF). Stade de France obliges, the national teams of football and from Rugby desert the Park, involving a fall of receipts for the SESE. As, the contract binding the City and the SESE is much less demanding as in the past. With the great despair of the residents, several concerts from now on are authorized each season with the Park… In order to compensate for the loss of receipts, the minimum guaranteed versed to the City is divided by two, passing to two franc million per annum.

The Paris Saint-Germain then adapts fully the stage, and the seat of the club is transferred there in a new building the February 18th 2002. The PSG hesitates has to open its doors with the club of Rugby to XV of the French Stade Paris, proposing the damage that would cause with the lawn by the rugbymen. Initially, the positive ratios between the two clubs make it possible the club of the president max Guazzini to organize some meetings with the Park in front of full and festive platforms. The final of the Coupe of Europe of Rugby to XV 2000-2001 takes place there while five matches of the World cup of Rugby to XV 2007 are programmed with the door of Saint-Cloud, of which the finale for the third place. But it becomes increasingly difficult for the French Stage to program its matches of championship vis-a-vis the reserve of the PSG.

Following the sale in June 2006 of the PSG by Canal+ at funds of American investment (Capital Colony), at funds of French investment (Butler) and at an US bank (Morgan Stanley), the concession of the Park of the Princes passes under control of the new owners of the Parisian club. The concession contract of the Town of Paris, owner of the Park, runs until in 2014.

The September 12th 2007, the team of France of football returns to the Park to dispute there a match against the Scotland in match qualifier for the Euro 2008.

Architectural characteristics

The demolition of the old Park begins the July 8th 1967, but work of the new stage begins only in November 1969. Programmed over twelve months, work extends in fact over 29 months. The complexity of the unit explains these delays. The stage drawn by the architect Roger Taillibert is indeed avant-gardist while the passage of the ring road under the stage requires the construction of underground pillars framing the road tunnel in order to offer sufficiently solid fulcrums to support the weight of the 77.000 m ³ of concrete and the 7000 tons of steel of the enclosure.

The stage, of elliptic form (main roads of 251,50m and small axis of 191m), is pressed on gantries cantilever which give its seal external with the Park. These gantries do not have same dimensions and thirteen different models are necessary to girdle the enclosure. Taillibert decides to integrate into the roof the 172 projectors necessary for the matches into night; In the beginning, four chechmates of lighting were envisaged.

The platforms are on two stages: red in bottom, blue in top. While turning in the direction of the needles of a watch, the steps are named as follows:

  • Auteuil Platform - behind the goals, on the left compared to the cameras TV
  • Platform Paris (G, H, I, J, K) - side, opposite the cameras TV
  • Boulogne Platform - behind the goals, on the right compared to the cameras TV
  • presidential Platform (has, B, C, D, E, F) - side, on the same side as the cameras TV

Foot-note: at the time of the matches of the PSG, the platform F is reserved for the supporters visitors.

Its capacity formerly of 49.691 (including 200 in platform of press), then of 48.527 places, puts a ceiling to 1998 at September 2006 in 44.283 places (given UEFA). 44.053 normal places plus 230 places VIP. This capacity of reception is confirmed by the facts. Since 2001, and in spite of more than 40 matches played closed counters with the Park, the PSG there forever exceeded an multitude of 43.930 spectators.

In August - September 2006, certain armchairs are replaced, but red armchairs are installed in high platform in the middle of the usually blue armchairs, while with the reverse of the blue armchairs are installed in low platform in the middle of the usually red armchairs. One sees from now on inscription “PSG” written in the Paris platform. This work makes it possible to gain a few hundreds of places (number not yet specified) by redotant the first lines of the Boulogne platforms and Auteuil of armchairs, dismounted since 1997 for safety reason. The poster PSG-OM of the September 9th 2006 has been the first meeting has to dispute in this new configuration, with an multitude record for six seasons: 44.431 spectators.

Principal football games played Park

World cup

Championship of Europe of the nations

Final of Cuts of Europe of the clubs

Final of the Latin Cut

Championship of France of football USFSA

The finale of the championship USFSA is held with the Park in 1903, 1905, 1907 and 1910.

Coupe de France

The final of the second Coupe de France opposing CASG Paris to the Olympique of Paris is held with the Park the April 6th 1919. The Banquiers of the CASG are crowned. From 1919 to 1997,33 finales are held with the Park. PSG, OM and the ACE Monaco knew each one four sacrings with the Park.

Cut of the League

Created in 1994 - 1995, the first three editions of the finale of the Cut of the League take place to the Park. PSG is victorious in 1995, FC Metz in 1996 and RC Strasbourg in 1997.

Tournament of Paris

The Tournament of Paris was a competition putting at the catches four clubs over two days with the Park of the Princes. From 1957 to 1966, in fact the RC Paris was the organizer of this tournament. Paris FC taken the relay in 1973, then Paris Saint-Germain of 1975 to 1993. The tournament is given up by the new direction of the PSG (Canal+).

Team of France

Between the February 12th 1905 and the June 11th 1997, the Park accommodated 126 official matches of the team of France A. the first version of the Park receives 6 official matches of the Blue ones, version 2 accommodates of them 46 and current version 74. The September 12th 2007, the team of France of football returns to the Park to dispute there a match against the Scotland in match qualifier for the Euro 2008.

In addition to these meetings, the Blue ones disputed several nonofficial matches with the Park such France-Africa of the North of the October 7th 1954, France- Real Madrid of the August 19th 1975, or France Juventus FC of the September 3rd 1980 in particular.

Principal matches of Rugby with XV played Park

World cup

Final of the Cut of Europe of the clubs

Championship of France

31 finales of the championship are held on the lawn of the Park of the Princes between 1902 and 1997. The permière version of the enclosure accommodates three of them (1902, 1906, 1910), version 2 receives four from them (1943, 1944, 1945 and 1946) and version 3 is the stage of the finale of 1974 with 1997, that is to say 24 editions. With eight titles gained with the Park, the ACE Béziers is located in front of the Stade Toulousain (7) and the KNOWN Agen (4).

Team of France

Matches of the Tournament

Matches except Tournament

The national museum of the Sport

The National museum of the Sport is located in the Park of the Princes. It was inaugurated in 1988 and has a surface of 1650 m ² devoted to the collections. In April 2004, the national museum of the Sport is labellisé “Museums of France” by the ministry for the Culture and the Communication. The museum is currently closed (access reserved to the researchers) in waiting of its possible removal.

The Park in the popular culture

The Park is often used by the scenario writers and it is not rare to witness turnings in margin of the meetings. Let us quote here Five Tulips red (1949), whose outcome has place with the Park or Didier (1997) where the man-dog Alain Chabat plays a match vis-a-vis the PSG.

Quotation

Concerts

Since the medium of the Years 1980, the Park of the Princes accommodates concerts. Let us quote Michael Jackson which was the first in 1988, Johnny Hallyday, U2 (53 519 spectators on September 6th, 1997), Robbie Williams, Prince or Iron Maiden. In 2007, MUSE (June 23rd), Genesis (June 30th) and the Red Hot Chili Peppers (July 6th) are programmed.

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