Olympique Lyonnais Matchday Guide

A modern, big-stadium occasion with a proud history behind it. The Groupama Stadium holds close to 60,000, a sleek three-tiered bowl with the vocal support gathered in the virages behind each goal. The atmosphere has ebbed and flowed with the club’s fortunes of late, but the great nights — visits of PSG and Marseille, European fixtures — still fill the place and stir the memory of Lyon’s golden decade. There’s genuine pride here, in that seven-in-a-row era, in a celebrated academy, and in a women’s team that is among the best on the planet. Expect a comfortable, contemporary matchday at one of France’s most impressive grounds.

The stadium sits in Décines-Charpieu, around 10km east of the city centre, so allow time. The simplest route on matchdays is the dedicated tram T7, which runs directly to the ground from the edge of the city; alternatively, take tram T3 to Décines Grand Large, then bus 85 or a short walk. From the centre, budget around 45 minutes. By car, the N346 (toll) is fastest and the D317 (no toll) slower, with ample parking on-site as part of the OL Vallée complex. The airport is around 10km away. Doors open about two hours before kickoff. Our getting around Lyon guide has the tram details.

Because the ground is well out of town, the choice is between drinking in the city first or at the stadium complex. Lyon is the gastronomic capital of France, so a pre-match in the centre is a treat — the bouchons lyonnais (traditional bistros) of Vieux Lyon serve hearty local cooking, and the Presqu’île is full of bars. Out at the OL Vallée complex around the stadium there are restaurants, bars and leisure options to fill the time before kickoff. Our Lyon sports bars guide points you to the best spots in the centre and by the ground.

Payment is card-friendly, and the modern concourses offer a good range of food and drink. The Groupama Stadium is a genuinely impressive arena — Populous-designed, privately built, with three-tier side stands and two lively virages behind the goals where the lower tiers were shaped to feel like traditional terraces. The West and East side stands, near the halfway line, offer the best views; the virages bring the most noise. Four large lion sculptures guard the outer concourse, a nod to the club’s emblem. It’s a slick, comfortable, big-match venue, a world away from the old Stade de Gerland it replaced in 2016.

Tickets are sold through the official club website. The large capacity means most league games are readily available, with the visits of PSG and Marseille and any European nights the hardest to get, so book those ahead. The side stands are best for the view, the virages for atmosphere. Entry is by digital ticket, and security checks at a stadium this size take time, so arrive early. Prices vary by opponent and stand. Our Olympique Lyonnais tickets guide walks through the official sale.

The T7 tram and the other services clear the crowd back toward the city, though expect it to be busy right after the whistle given the out-of-town location. Lyon then rewards the trip enormously: this is France’s third city and a UNESCO treasure, with the Renaissance streets and hidden traboules of Vieux Lyon, the basilica and Roman theatres up at Fourvière, and above all a food scene second to none. If you’re staying over, a base on the Presqu’île or in Vieux Lyon keeps you close to the best of it and the trams out to the ground; our Lyon hotels guide covers the options.

Take the T7 tram — the dedicated matchday tram runs direct to the stadium from the city.

Eat in a bouchon first — Lyon is France’s food capital, so a traditional bistro is the ideal pre-match.

Sit in the side stands for the view — the West and East stands near halfway are best.

Book the big games early — PSG, Marseille and European nights are the ones that sell out.

Arrive early — security at a near-60,000 ground takes time.

Explore Vieux Lyon — the Renaissance old town and its traboules are a highlight of any visit.

Facts verified July 2026. The club has faced significant financial and ownership changes recently, and capacities and ticketing can vary between seasons — confirm the latest details on the official Olympique Lyonnais website before you travel.