The Stade de France, a landmark venue that hosted the 1998 FIFA World Cup, is set to undergo a significant management transition. After 30 years under the stewardship of construction giants Vinci and Bouygues, the stadium's operations will now be handled by GL Events. The Lyon-based event management group announced on Monday that it had been designated as the 'attributaire' by the French state, marking the end of a lengthy tender process that began two years ago.

GL Events' victory in securing the 30-year concession comes after a competitive bidding process that saw the current consortium, Vinci-Bouygues, being sidelined in mid-December. Despite the latter's administrative appeals to contest the procedure, their efforts were ultimately dismissed by both the Montreuil administrative court and the Conseil d'État, France's highest administrative jurisdiction. This paves the way for GL Events to officially take over the stadium's management starting August 5.

The transition to GL Events signifies a new chapter for the Stade de France, located in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. The group, led by Olivier Ginon, has expressed readiness to host international sports and cultural events, with the first concerts scheduled for August 2025. However, the final concession contract is yet to be signed, with legal teams scrutinizing the details to avoid the pitfalls of the previous agreement, which was hastily signed during the 1995 presidential election and led to costly legal disputes for the state.

While GL Events has publicly announced its designation, the French state, including Bercy and the Ministry of Sports, has not yet officially confirmed the decision. The delay in confirmation underscores the complexity of the transition and the high stakes involved in managing one of France's most iconic venues. As the Stade de France prepares to enter this new era, all eyes will be on GL Events to uphold its legacy while introducing fresh energy into its operations.