Watching game at the Orange Velodrome

Enter the Orange Velodrome

A mythical stadium

When I get to the stadium, and after more than a year and a half without having been there, the feeling of finding an old friend is created in me. In front of this magnificent stadium in the heart of Marseille and surrounded by the crowds of fans,  an exciting evening awaits.

As a big fan of the “Olympique de Marseille”, I’m looking forward to the start of the match. And I am far from alone. More than an hour before the match, I set up in the “Ganay” grand stand and the atmosphere is already charged. Almost all the spectators in the stands are exchanging ” Aux armes” (unified rallying chants of the supporters) and make the stadium and the city vibrate.
With a maximum authorised capacity of 50,000 (due to the health crisis) and the stadium is announced as complete, everyone knows that the match in the national league is going to make us anxious. On the stadium’s giant screens, the public is being interviewed. Aged from 3 to 80 years old, coming from Lille, Paris, Germany, or even England, that evening, the biggest fans or simply the curious ones have gathered to live an unforgettable experience at the Orange Velodrome Stadium.

An electric atmosphere

While waiting for the match, I decide to get something to eat in one of the many refreshment stands in the stadium. With my ham and butter in hand, I sit down and wait patiently for the  start of the match. The stadium slowly fills up as the players start training on the field. The fans are holding up signs and I can see them starting to prepare their tifos (choreographed flag, sign or banner) to welcome the players as soon as the match starts.

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

At 8:45 pm, Van Halen’s “Jump” music sounds, the supporters stand up, the fans sing and brandish their tifos with the colours of OM. The match can begin!

Experience an Olympique de Marseille match

Attending an OM match at the Orange Velodrome Stadium is an experience not to be missed if you are 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 Gold Ball “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 continues to be increasingly lively.

Around me, tourists and families are present, happy to find  the championship again. For some of them, it’s simply the desire to witness the mythical atmosphere of the stadium.

That evening, the players and this (almost) new Olympique de Marseille team are happy to meet their supporters. Throughout the match, the players give all of themselves and have only one desire: to give their fans its  first  home victory after a year and a half without them.

A popular club that brings people together

Throughout the match, the excited fans supported their team. Songs, shouts, signs…The fans gave all their strengh to the Olympians. After a first half where the Olympique de Marseille led 2-0,  we finally got a 2-2 tie that evening. A bit disappointed not to have won, but the fact of having returned to the  stadium erases any disappointment. The good mood of the public is always present.

After more than a year and a half without an Olympique de Marseille championship match at the “Orange Velodrome Stadium”, it is on the 15th of August, 2021 that the fans were able to meet their  team of hearts. More than 50,000 people were present on Sunday to feel the stadium’s fervor once again. From the grandstands to the North and South sections, they made the Phocean stadium tremble. A major sporting event and an overexcited atmosphere. The Orange Velodrome Stadium has the gift of  bringing  people together, regardless of age, gender or social class.