GL Events Secures 30-Year Concession for Stade de France, Ousting Vinci-Bouygues
The Lyon-based event management firm will take over operations of the iconic venue starting August 2025, potentially reshaping France's sports and entertainment landscape.
- GL Events, a major player in event management, has been awarded the concession for the Stade de France until 2055, replacing the Vinci-Bouygues consortium that has managed the venue since 1995.
- The decision, finalized by the French Ministry of Finance's infrastructure division, follows a competitive bidding process where GL Events proposed €100 million in modernization work, compared to Vinci-Bouygues' €400 million renovation plan.
- The change in management could impact other venues tied to Vinci, including Bordeaux's Matmut Atlantique stadium, which has relied on concerts for financial stability but now faces uncertainty.
- The Matmut Atlantique is already grappling with challenges, including the loss of its naming rights sponsor after July 2025 and unresolved disputes between its operator and local authorities over their public-private partnership agreement.
- GL Events, led by Olivier Ginon, a close associate of Emmanuel Macron, has previously managed high-profile events such as the Paris 2024 Olympics and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
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