“We meet at the fan zone! In a few years, this sentence will be common to the supporters of RC Strasbourg. With the expansion of the Meinau stadium, whose gauge will increase from 26,000 to 32,500 by 2025, its entire environment will change. In particular the current square in front of the main entrance, rue de l’Extenwoerth.
It is this place that will host this famous “fan zone”. Spectators will have access to it from three hours before the match, and after the match. For entertainment, with giant screens for example, and of course to consume with bars and a brasserie. Great novelty, the space now occupied by refreshments and catering will be significantly increased.
“There will be around 5,000 m²,” explains Olivier de Crécy, whose Strasbourg firm is supporting Populous, the English architect in charge of the dossier. This surface will therefore extend from the bottom of the west stand to the future Racing store. Or, for those who visualize, in the middle of the large parking lot that currently faces the stadium. As a direct consequence, rue de l’Extenwoerth will be cut off just after McDonald’s and will no longer pass in front of the enclosure.
The “fan zone” will be limited to 5,000 people. This maximum capacity emerges from the list of recommendations resulting from public consultations carried out since 2019. In it, it is also written that “the noise impact” must be limited. “We work with acousticians, that’s the whole point of the approach,” reassures the architect.
The place should also be vegetated. “It is close to my heart,” confirmed the environmental mayor of the Alsatian capital Jeanne Barseghian on Wednesday. On site, this should materialize through the planting of trees and the creation of green spaces. “It is a stadium project but also an urban project”, she again insisted in front of about forty people, the majority of whom are residents of the district.
Most had also come to see if their grievances had been heard and included in the famous book of recommendations. In particular on the question of illegal parking. Every game night, like wherever a stadium is in town, there is anarchy on the surrounding sidewalks. “We will no longer come to park near the enclosure, we will complicate its accessibility by car,” assured Vincent Debes, 4th vice-president of the Eurometropolis.
The Krimmeri-Meinau railway station could be used, the frequency of trams (A and C) increased and access on foot and by bicycle encouraged. Above all, illegal parking should no longer be tolerated. Preventive actions will already be taken this season, before gradually turning into repressive measures. “The idea is not to wait until the stadium works are finished to be ready,” said Jeanne Barseghian.