‘A True Operational Achievement’: Q’s With François-Régis Picolet, CEO, Stade De France

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There are several landmarks that come to mind when thinking about Paris, the City of Love and capital of France: the spectacular Eiffel Tower, the beautiful Sacré-Cœur on Montmartre, the Louvre Museum, the list goes on.

Featuring prominently on this list of sights is Stade de France, at a maximum capacity of 103,000 the country’s largest stadium, and one of Europe’s biggest. Just like everywhere else in the world right now, stadium business is booming, as François-Régis Picolet, CEO of the operating company of Stade de France, confirms in this on the venue’s record-breaking 2026.

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Pollstar: How does Stade de France’s event schedule demonstrate its flexibility and adaptability?
François-Régis Picolet: The 2026 season, featuring a record-breaking schedule of 35 events, including 25 concerts, fully illustrates the versatility of Stade de France. We are able to host concerts, sporting events, corporate functions, and special events in quick succession, adapting each configuration to the specific needs of organizers.
This capability is demonstrated on the ground. In June, the stadium hosted three Bruno Mars concerts, followed just a few days later by the installation of a natural grass pitch for the French Rugby Championship Final, before removing it to welcome System of a Down for their first-ever concert at Stade de France the following week. It was a true operational achievement.

This flexibility is a major asset, allowing us to host large-scale events while maximizing and optimizing the venue’s event calendar.
Since GL events became operator of Stade de France in August 2025, a more proactive and internationally focused approach has helped strengthen this momentum. The concert season now extends from spring through fall, reflecting the venue’s growing appeal to major international touring productions.

How does Stade de France accommodate very large crowds?
Stade de France was designed to welcome very large audiences under optimal conditions. This capability is supported by exceptional accessibility for all visitors, with two regional train lines, three metro lines directly connecting the venue to central Paris and the surrounding region, immediate access to two major highways, and close proximity to Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport. On site, 4,500 parking spaces and a 1,000-space bicycle parking facility are available.

Access to the stadium is also supported by a rigorous and secure crowd-flow management strategy, both for ingress and egress. It is this combination of accessibility, safety, operational efficiency, and overall spectator experience that makes the difference.

What makes Stade de France a premium destination for artists?
Paris is a global capital – culturally, economically, and as a tourism destination – renowned around the world. It is a must-play stop on major tours, where artists find an enthusiastic audience and a particularly dynamic market. With a flexible capacity of up to 103,000 spectators, Stade de France is the largest stadium in France and one of the largest in Europe. It is also an iconic venue with enormous symbolic significance.

The stadium is a maker of memories, a place where people come together and share powerful collective emotions, whether through concerts or major sporting events. Every spectator leaves with a memory or an emotion associated with Stade de France. The 2026 season, with nearly 2.7 million spectators overall – including approximately 2 million concertgoers – will create countless new memories that will resonate far beyond France’s borders.

How is Stade de France adapting to the growing demands of major international productions such as the NFL?
Stade de France’s ability to attract world-class events is particularly evident this year with the hosting of an NFL regular-season game on October 25.
Such an event requires exceptionally high standards and close coordination among domestic and international stakeholders.

Our role is to anticipate these needs and support organizers in delivering optimal conditions for teams, spectators, commercial partners, and media alike. We are proud to leverage our adaptability and proven expertise in support of the NFL. The event is expected to generate one of France’s largest media audiences since the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Hosting an NFL regular-season game perfectly reflects our ambition to embrace new event formats and strengthen Stade de France’s international positioning.

What major events do you envision hosting in the future?
Our ambition is to continue developing major international events, both in music and sports. We are currently in discussions with several leading organizations and are working to bring new large-scale productions to the venue, building on the momentum we have established.

Our objective is for Stade de France to become a permanent and essential stop on major international tours and a premier destination for flagship sporting events, while continuing to open its doors to new event formats.

What is your short- and medium-term vision for the development of Stade de France, and how will you achieve it?
Our ambition is to further strengthen Stade de France’s position as a leading venue on the European and international stage, and to establish it as a must-play destination for the world’s biggest tours and events.

To achieve this, we will continue to enhance its attractiveness, maintain operational excellence, and adapt to the evolving needs of the live entertainment industry. By remaining attentive to audiences, partners, and clients, we are pursuing a strategy centered on innovation, digital transformation, and international development.
To support this ambition, we are developing, within the GL events Group, an ambitious program of works and venue enhancements. Enhancing the overall guest experience sits at the heart of this strategy through an enriched spectator journey, innovative digital services, a fully accessible and secure venue, elevated hospitality offerings, and a stronger connection between the stadium and its local community.

This ambitious program of works and development goes far beyond a traditional modernization project. It is designed to shape the next generation of Stade de France and reinforce its position among the world’s leading destinations for live entertainment, sport, and major international events.

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