My evening at the Velodrome Stadium

All year round, the Velodrome Stadium plays host to Olympique de Marseille at home matches, where the atmosphere is renowned for being incredible. Join me for an unforgettable evening at the Velodrome!

Enter Velodrome Stadium

A legendary stadium

When I arrived at the stadium, after more than a year and a half without having been there, I had the feeling that I was meeting up with an old friend. Faced with this magnificent stadium in the heart of Marseille and surrounded by overjoyed supporters, an exciting evening lay ahead.

As a huge Olympique de Marseille fan, I can’t wait for the match to start. And I’m far from being the only one. More than an hour before the match, I was seated in the Ganay stand and the atmosphere was already palpable. Almost all the fans in the stands were shouting “Aux armes” at each other, and the stadium and the city were buzzing with excitement.
With a maximum authorised capacity of 50,000 (due to the health crisis) and a sold-out stadium, everyone knows that the reunion with the championship is going to leave us shaking our heads.
On the stadium’s giant screens, the fans are being interviewed. Ranging in age from 3 to 80, and coming from Lille, Paris, Germany and England, the Velodrome Stadium was packed to the rafters with fans and onlookers alike.

An electric atmosphere

While I waited for the match, I decided to grab a bite to eat in one of the many refreshment bars in the stadium. With my ham and butter in hand, I sat down and waited patiently for the match to start.
The stadium slowly fills up as the players start training on the pitch. The fans are waving signs and I can see them starting to prepare their tifos to give the players a proper welcome as soon as the match begins.

At Velodrome Stadium, the tifos prepared by the Olympique de Marseille supporters’ clubs are notoriously impressive (and I’m not just saying that because I’m from Marseille).

At 8.45pm, Van Halen’s “Jump” sounded, the fans rose to their feet, the fans in the stands sang and waved their tifos in the colours of l’OM. The match can begin.

Did you know?

Tifo is a colourful visual and vocal animation made from paper, cardboard, plastic, balloons, curtains, flags, tarpaulins, scarves and other eye-catching ideas. Tifo comes straight from Italy and developed in the south of the country at the end of the 60s. Tifo meaning: to support something or someone. Tifos are most often displayed at the start of a match, and are prepared weeks in advance by supporters’ clubs.

Experience an Olympique de Marseille match

Watching an OM match at the Velodrome is an experience not to be missed if you’re lucky enough to be in town on a match weekend.
After a kick-off given by Jean-Pierre Papin (the only Frenchman to have won the Ballon d’Or and to be honoured with this distinction while playing for a French club), on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of his Ballon d’Or, the atmosphere in the stadium continued to grow ever more lively.

All around me, tourists and families are present, happy to be back in the league. For some of them, it’s simply the desire to witness the mythical atmosphere of the stadium.

That evening, the players and the (almost) brand new Olympique de Marseille team were happy to be back with their supporters. Throughout the match, the players gave their all and had just one desire: to give their fans their first home win after a year and a half without them.

A popular club that brings people together

Throughout the match, the excited fans in the stands supported their team. Singing, shouting, placards… The fans gave their all to the Olympians.
After a first half in which Olympique de Marseille won 2-0, the final score was 2-2. I was a little disappointed not to have won, but the fact that I was back at the stadium erased any disappointment. The good humour of the crowd is still there.

After more than a year and a half without an Olympique de Marseille league match at the Velodrome Stadium, it was on 15 August 2021 that fans got to see their beloved team again. More than 50,000 people turned out on Sunday to feel the fervour of the stadium once again.
From the stands to the North and South sections, they shook the stadium. It was a major sporting event, and the atmosphere was superb. Regardless of age, sex or social class, there’s no denying the Velodrome Stadium’s ability to bring people together.