L'enceinte du boulevard Michelet accueille les matches de l'OM depuis 1937. Elle a été inaugurée par une victoire en amical face aux Italiens du Torino. Auparavant, les Olympiens se produisaient dans le vétuste stade de l'Huveaune. Le Stade Vélodrome portait alors bien son nom, puisque des compétitions cyclistes y étaient régulièrement organisées. Peu à peu, les gradins ont "grignoté" la piste cyclable qui bordurait le terrain. A l'occasion de la Coupe du Monde 1998, le stade a été totalement rénové et a vu sa capacité portée de 42 000 à 60 000 places. Le record d'affluence (57 603 spectateurs) remonte à la réception du Paris SG, le 8 avril 1998. Les quatre tribunes portent des noms de sportifs (le coureur à pied Jean Bouin, le cycliste Victor Ganay), d'une figure historique de la peste de 1720 (Virage Sud Chevalier Roze), mais aussi d'un supporter charismatique disparu en 2000 (Virage Nord Patrice De Peretti) The stadium on the Michelet Boulevard holds OM games since 1937. It was opened with a friendly victory against the italians from the Torino. Before that day, the Olympians played at the old Huveaune stadium ( 500m from my flat). The velodrome stadium was named that way because he held lots of cyclism competitions. More and more , the seats from the attendence took over the cycling track. The stadium has been upgraded for the 1998 world cup and its capacity changed from 42.000 to 60.000 seats. The record intendence was made on the 8th of april 1998 and the game against PSG. The four "curved" tribunes are named after great sportsmen (Jean Bouin runner, Victor Ganay cyclist), a historic caracter from the 1720 pleg(south curve Chevalier Rose), and after a charismatic supporter who passed away in 2000 ( north curve De Peretti). ADRESSE 3, Boulevard Michelet 13008 Marseille How to goto from the airport : folow the A55 direction "centre ville" Then folow the "stade velodrome" anouncemenet arrows. It should take about 25min. ( however, ask anyone , he knows where it is ^^) with subway:line 2,direction St marguerite Dromel, stop at the Rond point du Prado station for Virage Sud et Tribune Jean Bouin, stop at Ste Marguerite Dromel station if you go to Virage Nord De Peretti and Tribune Ganay.
for the 2007 Rugby world cup, heads of the city are talking about another velodrome upgrade ( 6games are beeing played there). they talk about a 60.000 to 80.000 upgrade with four 8-leveled-towers at the corners to support a roof(at least) and a 20.000seats oval balcony: