Nice

The Allianz Riviera is the modern home of OGC Nice, located at Rue Jules Bianchi in the Saint-Isidore district of Nice, in the Alpes-Maritimes department on the French Riviera. The stadium holds 36,178 spectators and opened in September 2013, replacing the historic Stade du Ray that had been Nice's home since 1927. Designed by the POPULOUS architectural firm, the Allianz Riviera features a distinctive undulating roof inspired by the Cote d'Azur's landscape, with green vegetation planted along the outer concourse walls creating a striking ecological aesthetic. The ground hosted matches at Euro 2016 and the 2024 Paris Olympics.

OGC Nice have a proud tradition in French football, having won four Ligue 1 titles between 1951 and 1959, and producing multiple French international players including Marcel Cerdan, the legendary boxer who was also associated with the club, Didier Deschamps, who played in Nice's youth system, and more recently strikers who progressed to leading European clubs. Under Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS Group, which acquired the club in 2019, Nice have been transformed into one of Ligue 1's most ambitious clubs, attracting significant player investment and pursuing Champions League qualification. The club have also been developing coaching and recruitment methodologies linked to INEOS's other sporting ventures including Manchester United.

The Allianz Riviera's location in one of Europe's most glamorous cities provides a uniquely appealing backdrop for football, with the Mediterranean Sea, the Promenade des Anglais, and the Alps visible on clear days from the stadium's upper tiers. Nice's cosmopolitan population - including significant expatriate communities from Britain and other countries - creates a diverse matchday audience. The stadium consistently fills for top Ligue 1 and European fixtures, and Nice's investment in the squad under INEOS has made the Allianz Riviera an increasingly significant venue in French and European football. The ground hosted Euro 2016 group stage and knockout matches, further establishing its credentials as a major European tournament venue.