Orange Vélodrome — Marseille, France

Orange Vélodrome — known historically as Stade Vélodrome — is one of France's largest and most iconic stadiums, located in the southern coastal city of Marseille. Originally opened in 1937 and extensively rebuilt for UEFA Euro 2016, the venue is the home ground of Olympique de Marseille and has hosted top-level football, rugby union, and major concerts for decades.

The 2016 renovation added a sweeping white roof that covers all seating tiers while leaving the pitch open to the sky, giving the stadium its distinctive modern profile. The bowl is configured in continuous tiers around the pitch, producing one of the most intense matchday atmospheres in European football when OM play at home and a powerful setting for large-scale concerts on non-match days.

The Vélodrome has staged matches for the 1998 and 2016 editions of the UEFA European Championship, the FIFA World Cups of 1938 and 1998, and the Rugby World Cups of 2007 and 2023. For concerts, the venue's scale places it among the largest open-air arenas in France and the primary stop in the south of the country for major international tours.

Orange Vélodrome sits in the 8th arrondissement of Marseille, roughly 3 kilometres south of the Vieux-Port and the city's historic centre. The surrounding Prado district is a mix of residential streets, local shops, and restaurants, giving the stadium a genuinely urban setting rather than the out-of-town parking site common to many modern arenas.

Marseille itself is France's second-largest city and its main Mediterranean port. The city combines a long maritime history with a mix of cultures that reflects centuries of trade across the Mediterranean basin. Landmarks including the Vieux-Port, the Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica, and the MuCEM museum on the waterfront are all within easy reach of the stadium by metro or taxi.

The Mediterranean climate means summer evenings are warm and generally pleasant, while spring and autumn shows can involve cooler temperatures after dark. Rain is less common than further north in France but not impossible — the stadium's roof covers spectator areas, so seated sections remain dry even if the weather turns during a concert.

The Vélodrome is well connected to central Marseille by metro and bus, and is easy to reach on foot from nearby neighbourhoods. Because the stadium is integrated into the city rather than set on its edge, most concertgoers will arrive by public transport rather than by car.

Transport options:

• Metro — the Marseille Métro Line 2 (M2) station Rond-Point du Prado is the closest to the stadium, a short walk from the main entrances. From Marseille-Saint-Charles — the main railway station — the metro journey takes approximately 10–15 minutes with a change at Castellane
• Bus and tram — multiple bus routes serve the Prado area, and the city's tram network connects the wider centre. Check the RTM Marseille transport app for current routes on event days
• Train — Marseille-Saint-Charles is served by direct TGV trains from Paris (around 3 hours), Lyon, Lille, and other major French cities, as well as connections across the south of France and into Italy and Spain
• Air — Marseille-Provence Airport (MRS) handles flights from across Europe and connects to central Marseille by bus and shuttle in around 30 minutes, with onward metro access to the stadium
• Taxi and rideshare — licensed taxis are widely available, and Uber and Bolt operate in Marseille. From central neighbourhoods, the journey is typically short outside of event-day traffic

Plan to arrive at least 60–90 minutes before the scheduled start time to allow for security screening, ticket scanning, and finding your section. After a sold-out concert, metro stations around the venue see heavy demand — waiting 15–20 minutes inside the bowl before heading to transport can make the journey back noticeably easier.

Orange Vélodrome is a modern, fully redeveloped stadium with the infrastructure expected of a top-tier European venue. Seating is arranged in continuous tiers around the pitch, with the sweeping roof covering all spectator areas for shelter from sun or rain. For concerts, a floor standing or premium front-of-stage section is typically set up in front of the main performance area.

Food and beverage concessions operate on the concourses during events, alongside merchandise points for tour-specific items. Card and contactless payments are widely accepted throughout France and at the venue. Restroom facilities are distributed around the concourses to minimise queuing during breaks in the programme.

Security screening at the entrance follows standard international event protocols. Prohibited items typically include professional cameras, large bags, outside food and beverages, and any objects that could be used as projectiles. Check the specific event page for detailed restrictions before travelling to the venue.

Full show timings, support acts, and any venue-specific notes are confirmed closer to each date — browse the tour schedule for the latest information on Marseille shows.

Attending a concert at Orange Vélodrome is a natural reason to spend additional time in Marseille — France's second-largest city and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe. The combination of Mediterranean coastline, historic port quarters, and a rich culinary scene makes the city a strong base for a longer trip built around a concert.

Landmarks worth adding to a concert trip include the Vieux-Port with its morning fish market, Notre-Dame de la Garde overlooking the city from its hilltop, Le Panier — Marseille's oldest district — and the MuCEM waterfront museum. Boat trips to the Frioul archipelago and the Château d'If, the island prison that inspired The Count of Monte Cristo, depart regularly from the port. The nearby Calanques National Park offers dramatic limestone cliffs and hidden coves along the coast east of the city.

France is part of the Schengen Area; travellers from many countries can enter visa-free for short stays, while others may need a Schengen visa. Check your country's specific requirements with the French consulate or the official French government portal before booking travel.

For background on the tour itself, visit the about the artist page. Questions about ordering and ticket delivery are answered on the FAQ page. Return to the homepage for all available dates.