LDLC Arena

Lyon, France

  • Typologies

    Arenas

  • Building Activities

    Basketball, Concerts, Conferences & Expos, Esports, Tennis

  • Services

    Architecture, Brand Activation, Environmental Graphic Design, Interior Design

LDLC Arena will be the largest indoor arena in France outside Paris and one of the most technologically and environmentally advanced in Europe.

CHALLENGE. The multi-purpose venue represents the latest stage in Olympique Lyonnais Groupe’s ‘OL Valley’ venture, which will see the development of the area surrounding Groupama Stadium into a thriving cultural and leisure destination for the wider region.

INNOVATION. The highly adaptable venue is expected to host between 100 to 120 events per year, including LDLC ASVEL’s Euroleague basketball matches, futsal, tennis, esports competitions, large scale seminars and trade shows, as well a programme of live concerts. It will have a capacity of 16,000 for concerts and 12,000 for sporting events.

Internally, the arena will be equipped with a modular seating tier system, with three stands facing the stage and a fourth removable one for use during sporting events. The innovative seating bowl design places every fan as close to the performance area as possible, creating an intense atmosphere for events, while the food and drink concessions on offer throughout the venue will deliver incredible hospitality experiences, encouraging fans to arrive at the arena earlier and stay later.

Externally, arena that will be striking in appearance yet sympathetic in its connection to its surroundings. This is achieved by the outer skin or ‘veil’ of the arena, which creates depth and breaks down the volume of the acoustic box. This striking cladding system, comprising textured panels set at different angles, softens the outline of the building and creates a dialogue with landscape through its openings and perforations.

Sustainability has been at the heart of the design process. Populous has optimised the layout of the internal spaces to minimise the footprint of the building and, in turn, reduce the volume of building materials needed. The shell of the building comprises an innovative double skin, which helps to regulate the temperature within the arena and minimise the need for climate control systems.

The arena will generate its own energy with 6,000s sqm of photovoltaic panels on the main roof. In the public realm surrounding the venue, 30% of the total area will be green space, with the scheme incorporating hundreds of mature trees and a large bird reservation to the north of the site.

“The focus is on providing a great atmosphere and exceptional, best-in-class hospitality facilities that ensure the arena is a destination venue for the whole region and maintains the momentum of the ambitious and sustainable vision Olympique Lyonnais is delivering for the regeneration of this area of the city.”

Christopher Lee, Managing Director – EMEA, Populous

IMPACT. Scheduled for completion by the end of 2023, LDLC Arena will enable the Lyon to attract the world’s best musicians and performers, supported by a long-term commercial agreement between entertainment company Live Nation and Olympique Lyonnais Groupe. This partnership began with the opening of the Groupama Stadium in 2016 and has seen it host concerts for a number of touring international artists such as Rihanna, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran and The Rolling Stones. In terms of the LDLC Arena, the partnership will see an increase in the number of international acts that visit Lyon, drawing in spectators not only from the city itself but also from the surrounding region and beyond.

Project Team
Connect with the designers

Garry Reeves

Elizabeth Miglierina