Strasbourg

The Stade de la Meinau is the historic home of RC Strasbourg Alsace, located at 12 rue de l'Extenwoerth in the Meinau neighbourhood of Strasbourg, Alsace. The stadium holds 29,200 spectators and has been Strasbourg's home since 1914, making it one of the oldest football grounds still in continuous professional use in France. The original ground was substantially developed during the 20th century, with the current structure representing successive phases of renovation. Strasbourg's position on the Rhine border with Germany gives the city and its football club a distinctive bicultural identity, and the Meinau reflects the industrial, working-class character of the southern part of the city.

RC Strasbourg Alsace won their only French league title in 1978-79 under coach Gilbert Gress, and the Meinau celebrated that historic achievement as well as the club's multiple Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue victories. The club also reached the UEFA Cup final in 1979, losing to Red Star Belgrade. More recently, the club experienced a dramatic fall through the French football pyramid before being revived by a fan-led consortium that purchased the club in 2011 and rebuilt it from the lower leagues. This community ownership story attracted significant attention and admiration, and made Strasbourg's return to Ligue 1 in 2017 one of French football's most celebrated recent narratives.

The Meinau has been progressively renovated in recent years to improve facilities and maintain its Ligue 1 status, and the stadium generates passionate support from a fanbase with a deep attachment to the club's Alsatian identity. BlueCo, the consortium that also owns Chelsea FC, acquired a controlling stake in Strasbourg in 2023, bringing significant new investment and opening a new era for the club and its stadium. Plans for a more comprehensive renovation or new stadium are being developed. Strasbourg's European Parliament buildings and the city's UNESCO-listed Grande Ile old town provide a culturally extraordinary backdrop to football in this unique bicultural corner of France.