A major team in the European landscape in women's football, Olympique Lyonnais paradoxically does not have a stadium worthy of the name. A surprise project is coming up for 2030.
OL women, which is still the women's version of the Lyon club but no longer belongs to John Textor's holding company, is looking for a stadium. A recurring problem because the Fenottes cannot find an enclosure of the right size. The Groupama Stadium is far too big and would be hollow, including for Champions League matches. The operation would be more costly than profitable, despite the prestige of the place. Therefore, for several months, OL women have been talking with LOU, the city's rugby club which owns the lease for the Gerland stadium. But no agreement was found, and according to Le Progrès, the positions grew apart to the point that the project was abandoned.
Lyon City Hall is supportive
There is a lack of solutions for a stadium of a respectable size, between 10 and 20,000 seats, to accommodate the girls who have won the Champions League eight times. As a result, like what Jean-Michel Aulas did for the Groupama Stadium, OL Women plans to build its own stadium, instead of the Balmont Stadium in La Duchère. A project for an enclosure of between 15 and 20,000 places which would revitalize an entire district, between transport, shops and activities. All this by 2030, because the fact that a stadium already exists and belongs to the city of Lyon, will greatly facilitate the procedures, particularly in terms of permits and town planning. This would clearly have a cost of several tens of millions of euros according to Le Progrès, but the Town Hall seems in favor of it even if the bulk of the contribution will clearly come from OL and its investors.
« At this stage, discussions are taking place regarding Balmont which is a municipal facility, but also other sites within the city. Lyon is today recognized as the world capital of high-level women's football. As a mayor who loves his city, who loves football and who is a feminist, it is in Lyon intramural that he wants to see the women's team play » the municipal team confided to the regional daily.
