PSG Told Parc des Princes Roof Must Go for 70,000-Seat Expansion
Paris Saint-Germain’s preferred stadium plan now hinges on a major intervention at the Parc des Princes: architects have advised removing the venue’s famous roof to make a 70,000-seat expansion possible.
What we know
- PSG are leaning towards staying at the Parc des Princes, provided the City of Paris agrees to sell the stadium to the club.
- The club want to buy and redevelop their long-standing home into a modern arena with capacity for around 70,000 supporters.
- Populous believes the existing roof would need to come down for the stands to be enlarged substantially.
- The proposal has triggered opposition from figures linked to Roger Taillibert, the stadium’s original architect, who died in 2019 and wanted his design protected.
- Heritage architect Nicolas Buisson has argued that changes to the stadium’s structural pillars would damage its architectural identity, insisting a less destructive solution should be explored.
- Earlier expansion concepts included lowering the playing surface to create room for bigger stands while retaining the roofline. New construction methods could allow a wider rebuild of the seating bowl.
The next step: PSG must settle roof and ownership questions
PSG face a difficult calculation before committing to a final design. If the roof cannot be altered, capacity may be limited to about 60,000, a figure that could weaken the case for Qatar Sports Investments to fund such extensive work.
There is also a potential legal obstacle. Taillibert’s daughter holds rights connected to her father’s work and could challenge plans that significantly change the original stadium design. A court case would delay the project, leaving PSG to weigh a 70,000-seat rebuild against preservation demands and the terms of any sale by the city.
