The Grand Stadium Allianz Riviera Nice is close to Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport and is situated in the eco-Valley’s plain of the Var. It serves as the venue for big events including concerts, plays, and sporting contests as well as OGC Nice football, rugby, tennis on grass, and motorsports. The linked Stadium, the host location for Euro 2016, can accommodate 36,178–45,000 spectators while adhering to the principles of sustainable construction.
History and description
The OGC Nice’s brand-new stadium, the Allianz Riviera, also goes by the name Grand Stade de Nice. Nice had long desired a new stadium to replace its aging and dilapidated Stade du Ray. After earlier initiatives were shelved in 2002 and 2006, it wasn’t until France was given the right to host the Euro 2016 competition that real progress was achieved.
A year later, in August 2011, building on the stadium officially began after finalized drawings were shown in the middle of 2010. An estimated €245 million in public and private funding went into building the stadium. Nice established a naming rights agreement with the insurance company Allianz in 2012, giving rise to the moniker Allianz Riviera.
The league match between Nice and Valenciennes (4-0) served as the official grand opening of the Allianz Riviera on September 22, 2013. Throughout the Euro 2016 Championships, the arena hosted three first-round group games as well as the round of 16 come across among Iceland and England (2-1).
A multifunctional Stadium
1. Land of sport
The Allianz Riviera is open all year long and hosts a variety of activities, starting with football games involving the club residents of OGC Nice. Rugby matches may be held in the stadium, which has dimensions of 131 by 73 meters. On a surface that is quicker than clay, it may also be used as a framework for motorsports and tennis on grass.
2. Show room
Up to 45,000 people may attend large-scale concerts, operas, and performances at the Allianz Riviera.
3. Place of receipt of the companies
The regional businesses, national businesses, and worldwide businesses benefit from 10,000 m2 reception rooms, including 44 boxes and 9 lounges, to plan their events in privileged circumstances. These events might range from a small meeting to a reception, a plenary of 1,000 attendees at the full privatization of the enclosure.
A stadium connected
- Tickets may be downloaded and purchased online using a smartphone.
- Since ordering from the bar from home or his location will soon be possible and will shorten the time spent on site, a prepayment online will allow one to avoid waiting at the bar.
- Users may access several Wi-Fi hotspots in the lounges and dressing rooms.
- The stadium has 4 G SFR connectivity.
The architectural work
The Riviera’s architecture, designed by Wilmotte & Associates office for Allianz, has a third goal in mind beyond solely aesthetic and practical considerations, which is to uphold the ideals of sustainable development. There is creativity in its construction, according to the speaker, who is building up wonderful energy.
By virtue of its size, this wooden and metal construction is distinct. Through the barrier that conceals the “quite extraordinary geometry three-dimensional equation,” she invites guesses. According to architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, “Make alive inside whether inside or outside.” An experiment in transparency, light, and shadow… Additionally, the silhouette is made entirely of pure air.
The lawn
The grass of the Allianz Riviera was born and raised in a nursery in the Barp, close to Bordeaux. In the month of August 2013, this Green Gold was transported to a good port by 25 refrigerated trucks. OGC Nice is a factor in his decision, and Nice Eco Stadium was not the only party interested in the grass. 9 300 m2 is covered with 530 1, 20 x 15-meter rolls of grass. The parks of the Allianz Riviera spin under the seating. There is no additional dry base that leads to the lawn. But regardless of the land. Volcanic rock, coal slag, and nutrients are all mixed together.
Under the lawn are pipes that circulate the air, remove water when it rains, and ventilate the lawn when it’s really hot. The grass is maintained all year long with tasks like relining, gritting, and coring operations as well as light therapy to encourage photosynthesis, fertilizing, mowing, and of course, frequent watering. To provide the best possible grass for each sporting event, particular activities of reclamation are scheduled for after the events.
How to get to Allianz Riviera
The Allianz Riviera lies in the western areas of Nice, almost ten kilometers from the city center and roughly five kilometers from Nice International Airport.
The stadium is directly adjacent to the A8 freeway, which runs north of Nice along the French Riviera. While other parking spots are simpler to access through Exit 51, choose Exit 52 to go directly to the stadium.
From the Promenade des Anglais near Nice International Airport, it is simpler to travel north on the Route de Grenoble if leaving from central Nice.
If you’re taking public transportation, you can get to the stadium by taking the 95 matchday bus, which departs from Hôpital St. Roch in the heart of Nice. About 50 minutes are needed for the trip. The normal line 9/10 route has also been extended to include the stadium, albeit the trip there takes around 75 minutes.
A different option is to take a TER train from Nice-Ville main rail station to St. Augustin station, from where shuttle buses travel to the stadium.
The Allianz Riviera is a 10-minute downhill walk from the station Saint-Isodore on the Chemins de Fer de Provence commuter rail, which also stops at Digne. Only a few trains operate throughout the day, however more run-on days when there are events. A ten-minute walk north of Nice-Ville station is the rail station for Chemins de Fer de Provence, whence trains depart.
Eat, drink, and sleep near Allianz Riviera
A semi-rural region with a mix of farms, homes, offices, and light industry makes up the area where the Allianz Riviera is situated on the outskirts of Nice. There isn’t much to do nearby in terms of entertainment, but if you have some time to kill and are hungry or thirsty, you can locate a few businesses near Saint-Isidore rail station. Otherwise, it is best to dine and drink in the heart of Nice.
The Allianz Riviera is close to two hotels, both of which are close to Saint-Isidore: Provider Nice the Kyriad Nice is a tad cheaper, although Saint Isidore has received excellent evaluations. Both are about a ten-minute stroll from the Allianz Riviera and will probably be most appealing to those coming by vehicle.
As an alternative, there are a number of accommodations close to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, which is accessible and adjacent to St. Augustin station, from where shuttle buses run to the stadium. But the majority will opt to remain in Nice’s charming city center.
Conclusion
In the center of the Eco-Valley is where you’ll find the Allianz Riviera. Public transit and carpooling should become automatic behaviors. The stadium and its parvis will be available for visitors a few hours prior to the start of the game. It is strongly advised to arrive early for ease of access.