Stade de Reims used to be one of the real French greats midway last century, but today they're quite anonymously playing in Ligue 1. Because of its past and location in the heart of the famous Champagne region, it's still a nice trip to a in some ways atypical club.
Have you ever wondered where the saying 'champagne football' comes from? From Reims of course, the capital of the Champagne region, north-east of Paris. In the fifties of last century, Stade de Reims was the first real French top team, winning several league titles and as being the opponent of Real Madrid in the first Europa Cup I Final ever. Players like Raymond Kopa and Just Fontaine grew out to be big stars of the French national team, and were true symbols for the enthousiastic, attacking style of play that was called champagne football. Football like that you don't see often anymore in Reims, but the sport and sparkling wine still remain important for the city til this day.
Just motorway A344 and a canal separate the Stade Auguste-Delaune from Reims' city center, what makes that you can walk there easily. The stadium has been the home of Stade de Reims since 1935, although it has undergone a metamorphosis several times, for the last time in 2008. The stadium is well visible because of the remarkable white roof and the floodlights who stick like four chopsticks in the air. There's place for 21.000 fans, but Reims rarely plays for a full house.
He is undeniable the best speler in the history of Stade de Reims, the in 2017 passed away Raymond Kopa, who wore in two periods no less than 13 years the red and white. The son of Polish immigrants became European Player of the Year in 1958, when he played with Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo di Stéfano at Real Madrid. With Madrid, he won the Europa Cup I three times in a row, for the last time in 1959 against Reims, which who he lost the final in 1956. In Angers the stadium was named after him, Reims honored him after his death with a statue right next to the stadium. You can find it in front of the main stand at the Chaussée Bocquain, next to entrance A.
You can see the Cathedrále Notre-Dame de Reims from the whole city, and is according to experts, the most beautiful cathedral of France. When Stade de Reims promoted back to Ligue 1 in 2018, the players were saluted by their fans at the Place du Cardinal Luçon, in front of the church. And when Reims presented a new manager last summer, they did it on a rooftop with a great view of the cathedral's two towers. You can climb the towers as well, which offers you after 80 meters a great view of Reims and the Stade Auguste-Delaune.
A visit of Reims comes with a glass of champagne, the world famous export product of the region. The sparkling wine has been important for the evolution of the city, and even for football. Stade de Reims was once founded as the football team of Maison de Champagne Pommery, one of the most prestigious champagne houses of the world, based in Reims. The club played their first matches in the Parc Pommery, close to the domain of Pommery. This park, at the Avenue du Général Giraud 10 is now applicably called Parc de Champagne, and in the middle of the park you can still recognize the shapes of a stadium.
When you stay overnight in Reims, you can take a hotel right next to the canal, along the Boulevard Paul Doumer, centrally located between city and stadium. Here you'll find a the big hotel chains in a row, but we do it for the view. Say when you reserve a room that you would like a room in front of the building, because they give you a nice view to the Stade Auguste-Delaune.
Football isn't expensive in Reims, a ticket behind the goal for a regular match won't cost you more than a tenner. Prices and interest can rise quickly when there's a bigger match upcoming. Especially Paris Saint-Germain, Olympique Marseille and neighbour Troyes attract a lot of people to the stadium.
Follow at motor way A344 the signs with 'Complexe Sportif'. They'll lead you to the stadium. From the city center, it's just a ten minute-walk to the stadium.
