Empty North Stand awaits Sochaux as Red Star's long-delayed renovation stalls

At Stade Bauer, the eagerly awaited North Stand remains closed as Red Star prepares to host Sochaux in Ligue 2 on Friday, denying supporters a gathering place. The atmosphere is tense, with fans hoping renovation will finally grant access, but officials have warned additional work is still required.

The club confirmed supporters will not yet be allowed in the North Stand, shut for more than twenty years. This marks another delay in the long-planned reopening of the space.

The stand was set to open at last, yet it will stand empty for Friday’s fixture against Sochaux. Fans will instead watch the match from other sections of the stadium.

Red Star announced the decision on Saturday, following an inspection on Thursday, 6 August by the departmental sub-commissions responsible for fire safety and public safety. The announcement came after officials completed their on-site visit.

The sub-commissions issued a conditional favourable opinion for public access, pending correction of several non-compliances identified during their inspection. The identified issues must be resolved before the stand can host spectators.

The required work must now be completed by Réalités, owner of the arena, ahead of a new inspection by the departmental sub-commission for sports facility approval. Réalités is tasked with addressing the safety shortcomings highlighted by inspectors.

Completing these steps represents the final administrative hurdle before the North Stand, long under construction, can finally welcome supporters. Once cleared, the stand will have been out of service for more than two decades.

A post on Instagram titled “Une publication” was shared by Red Star FC, illustrating the club’s communication on the matter. The visual update showed the empty stand and referenced pending works.