UEFA Euro 2016 is coming! Football fans from all over Europe will come to France during June 2016 to support their favorite team! What better than to share exciting moments with friends and family, in real for those who can, or on social networks?
The luckiest will enjoy the matches at one of the 10 stadiums selected by the UEFA Euro Championship. Even if most of theses stadiums was renovated before the competition, some of these still don’t offer of WiFi access or good 4G connection. Therefore, with the expected number of spectators it can be difficult in some stadiums to be able to send a SMS or to connect to the Internet.
For those who haven’t had the chance to get the precious ticket to enjoy the match inside the stadium, you still have the « FanZone » option. Fanzone areas will be settled in the 10 cities which host the 2016 EURO Championship. Supporters will enjoy watching the games on giant screen, while sharing the festive atmosphere of the competition with others football fans. The FanZone will also offer games and activities throughout the day. However, it might be interesting to know if the FanZone where you wish to go, has a free WiFi network, especially for the foreign supporters who can’t use their 4G access.
Then, finally, what could be better than watching the game sitting outside a pub, while taking advantage of the happy hour? A good home-made beer, a fresh burger and a festive ambiance. However, once again, all bars don’t have WiFi access.
Below, you will find, for each of the 10 UEFA partners cities, a description of the WiFi/4G system inside the stadiums and the FanZone. We’ve also selected two pubs for each city which will broadcast European Championship.
Attending the match at the Stadium
The Matmut-Atlantique stadium of the official Bordeaux football team, offers a free WiFi access with an more than 130 wifi antennas, that allow a high-speed internet access to all visitors.
The 4G connection is also optimal since the stadium renovation, thanks to a collaboration with Orange.
Watching the game at the FanZone
The « Place des Quinconces », in the heart of Bordeaux, will host the Bordeaux FanZone during the entire duration of the competition.
What to expect? the broadcasting in live of the 51 matches on a 116m² giant screen with an event programming. 91 animation projects selected by Bordeaux City Council will be propose for free, and concerts will be scheduled the days without matches.
Thanks to a partnership with Orange, the Bordeaux FanZone will offer an innovative WiFi network to its supporters.
Bordeaux had also an impressive network of free WiFi hotpots, all around the city. Thus, you will be able to connect to the Internet if you are close to the city hall, the « Miroir d’Eau », the « Grand Parc », the « Place de la Victoire », the « Place Jean Moulin », the « Cours de la Martinique », etc.
Watching the match at bars and pubs
AU BUREAU BORDEAUX
Address: 3, rue Louis de Funes, 33140 Villenave d’Ornon
Opening hours: Sunday-Thursday : 11:00am-Midnight
Friday-Saturday : 11:00am-01:00am
What we like: The establishment have no less than 9 screens – 7 inside and 2 on the terrace – on which the matches will be broadcasted live.
WiFi: Yes
COCK AND BULL
Address: 23 Rue Duffour Dubergier, 33000 Bordeaux
Opening hours: Monday – Friday : 3:00pm – 02:00am
Saturday-Sunday: Noon – 02:00am
What we like: Really appreciated for their burgers.
WiFi: Yes
Lille
Attending the match at the Stadium
The Pierre-Mauroy stadium doesn’t have free WiFi network for visitors. However, the 4G signal has been optimized recently, thanks to the collaboration with SFR in order to suit all needs of Euro 2016 supporters.
Watching the game at the FanZone
The Matisse Park will host the FanZone in Lille, with a capacity of 25’000 people. It will be the biggest FanZone of the competition after Paris (120’000) and Bordeaux (60’000).
The 51 matches will be broadcast live on a giant screen of 97m². The FanZone will spread over an area of 13 000 m², with a lot of food and drink stalls and many fun activities.
A WiFi access should be settled in in the area, thanks to the sponsorship of Orange.
Watching the match at pubs and bars
MACLARENS
Address : 44 Rue de Puebla, 59800 Lille
Opening hours : Monday : 11:30am – Midnight
Monday – Friday : Noon-1:30pm 5:30pm-1:00am
Saturday : Noon-1:30pm 5:30pm-2:00am
Sunday : 4:00pm-Midnight
What we like: Immerse yourself in the « How I Met Your Mother » world and be ready for the unlimited burgers’ evening!
WiFi : No
Attending the match at the Stadium
The Bollaert-Delelisne stadium doesn’t propose Wi-Fi access. However, such as the Lille stadium, the 4G connection has been optimized since shortly, with the collaboration of SFR.
Watching the game at the FanZone
The Lens FanZone will be set up in front of the Church « Saint-Léger », where a giant screen will be ready to broadcast live all the games.
Unfortunately, the FanZone will not have WiFi access.
Watching the match at pubs and bars
IRISH TAVERN
Address : 6 Avenue Raoul Briquet, 62300 Lens
Opening hours : Monday-Thursday : 11:00am-1:00am
Friday: 11:00am-2:00am
Saturday : 3:00pm-2:00am
Sunday : 5:00pm-1:00am
WiFi : No
Lyon
Attending the match at the Stadium
The Parc Olympique Lyonnais stadium, which has been inaugurated in January 2016, have a great free WiFi network: 600 wifi antennas all around the stadium have been installed to allow up up 20’000 simultaneous connections, which mean more interactivity and a unique experience for visitors.
The 4G LTE network works also very well.
Watching the match at the FanZone
The Place Bellecour will host the lyonnaise FanZone on all over its surface, and will be the heart of the festive activities of the Euro 2016 Championship in Lyon. All the matches will be broadcast on big screen, and the supporters also will be able to enjoy a lot of activities and games. The area will be open every day, since noon to 11:45pm.
The FanZone will offer a huge WiFi access, settled by Orange. The city of Lyon doesn’t have a lot of WiFi hotspots, but, some pocket WiFi are available for rental at the Lyon tourist office, also located on the Place Bellecour.
Watching the match at pubs and bars
LE WALLACE
Address: 2 rue Octavio Mey 69005 Lyon
Opening hours: Monday-Sunday : 11:00am-2:00am
What we like: The Scottish atmosphere and the whisky menu!
WiFi : Yes
Marseille
Attending the match at the Stadium
The Velodrome stadium in Marseille, which was entirely renovated in 2014, offer a free WiFi connection, as well as an efficient 4G connection, thanks to a new partnership with Orange.
Watching the game at the FanZone
The Marseille FanZone will be set up on the Prado beaches, overlooking the sea. With a capacity of 80’000 people, the area will be divided into several parts: a game zone which will broadcast live the games on a 160m² giant screen, a partner’s area, and a village area which will organize interactive and football activities, free concerts and a flash mob event.
There is a dedicated WiFi network for this FanZone, and there is also several Wifi hotspots on the Prado beaches.
The city also offers plenty of free WiFi hotspots, such as at the Tourist Office, at the Parc Borely, at the Parc Pastré, one the Bargmon esplanade, etc.
Watching the match at pubs and bars
THE RED LION
Address : 231 ave Pierre Mendès France 13006 Marseille
Opening hours : Monday-Sunday : 4:00pm-2:00am
What we like : a great terrace in front of the sea, and the wonderful view on the sunset.
Wi-Fi : No
Nice
Attending the match at the Stadium
The Allianz Riviera Stadium at Nice has already an optimal 4G connection, with a unique digital experience for supporters. With a dedicated smartphone application, supporters can for example order refreshment and food online in order to avoid long queues at the bar.
Since 2016, the stadium offers a high speed WiFi access for free to visitors 467 latest-generation wifi antennas has been set up through the stadium (outer court, salons, galleries) ; speed is up to 1 gigabit per second.
Watching the game at the FanZone
The Nice FanZone will be split into 2 different places. The area where the games will be broadcasted on a giant screen of 77m² will be located on the “Jardin Albert 1er” and the “Theatre de verdure”, with a maximum capacity of 10’000 supporters.
The event area will be located on the “Quai des Etats-Unis” next to the sea, and will host soccer games, beach-soccer, foot-volley, food court areas and a media zone.
The Nice FanZone will not offer any WiFi access. However, some free WiFi hotspots are available in the city centre.
Watching the match at pubs and bars
DE KLOMP
Address : 6 Rue Mascoïnat 06300 Nice
Opening hours : Monday-Saturday : 7:00pm-2:30am
Synday : 4:00am-7:00am 7:00pm-2:30am
What we like : Wide range of beers on the menu.
Wi-Fi : Yes
Paris
Attending the match at the Stadium
The “Parc des Princes” stadium has at least 40 4G antennas, so it means at least 1 antenna for 1’200 visitors. A high speed WiFi network was also set up at the end of 2015, in order to provide a wifi access to each supporter.
Watching the game at the FanZone
The Paris FanZone will take place in the “Champ de Mars”, next to the Eiffel Tower, and can welcome up to 90’000 supporters. The games will be broadcast on giant screen, and several activities will be offered, such as concerts, sports games, a UEFA’s sponsors village, etc.
The Paris FanZone will have a giant WiFi network with more than 270 WiFi antennas. Paris also offers some free WiFi hotspots in public parks and gardens.
Watching the match in pubs
THE LONG HOP
Address : 25/27 rue Frédéric Sauton 75005 Paris
Opening hours : Monday-Friday : 4:00pm-2:00am
Saturday-Sunday : 2:00pm-2:00am
What we like : the British spirit
WiFi : Yes
Saint Denis
Attending the match at the Stadium
The Stade de France has been one of the forerunners in terms of digital experience for supporters. The stadium offers to its visitors a free WiFi network. WiFi requires pre-registration on the website www.stadefrance.com.
4G coverage is also excellent.
Watching the game at the FanZone
The impressive FanZone of Saint Denis will be set up in the park of the girls’ school ” Légion d’honneur”, very close to the Stade de France, and will be able to welcome up to 10’000 people. To not disturb students during exams, the FanZone will be closed from June 15th to June 22th.
The FanZone will not have any WiFi network.
Watching the match at pubs and bars
LE SUPERCOIN
Address : 3 rue Baudelique 75018 Paris
Opening hours : Monday-Saturday : 5:00pm-2:00am
Sunday : 5:00pm-Midnight
What we like : Artisanal beers are awesome!
WiFi : Yes
Saint Etienne
Attending the match at the Stadium
The Geoffroy-Guichard stadium has a very good 4G coverage for supporters, thanks ultra high speed connection. However, the stadium haven’t yet a WiFi network.
Watching the game at the FanZone
The FanZone of Saint-Etienne will be settled on the Parc Francois Mitterand, where all games will be broadcast live on a giant screen. As the other FanZone, this one will also offers activities, food stalls and games to all the round ball supporters.
There will be not any WiFi access at the FanZone.
However, the city offers several free WiFi hotspots such as the Place of Châteaucreux, Hotel de Ville, Dorian, Chavanelle, Bellevue, Peuple, Neuve, Carnot… The city’s tramways have also free WiFi networks.
Watching the match at pubs and bars
THE CRAZY LEPRECHAUN
Address : 18 Rue Notre Dame, 42000 Saint-Étienne
Opening hours : Monday-Sunday : 5:30pm-1:30am
What we like : Daily happy hour!
WiFi : Yes
Toulouse
Attending the match at the Stadium
The Toulousan stadium haven’t yet a WiFi network, although it should be available soon. However, 4G coverage is excellent at the stadium since March 2016.
Watching the game at the FanZone
The Toulouse FanZone will be located on the Jules-Guesde driveways, and will broadcast live on a giant screen almost 11 of the 51 matches scheduled: the 4 of the stadium, and the matches of the France Team, according to its path.
There will be a WiFi access on this FanZone.
Furthermore, the city offers free WiFi hotspots in touristic areas: Place Saint Pierre, Place de la Daurade, Saint-Cyprien, Rue d’Alsace, and Place du Capitole.
Watching the match at pubs and bars
LE PERY
Address : 22 Rue Gabriel Péri, 31000 Toulouse
Opening hours : Sunday-Friday : 10:00m-2:00am
Saturday : 10:00am-3:00am
What we like : +1 for the daily Pitcher Happy Hour from 7pm to 8pm and for the tapas plates!
Wi-Fi : Yes
THE THIRSTY MONK
Address : 33 allée Jean Jaurès 31000 Toulouse
Opening hours : Tuesday-Saturday : 5:30pm-1:30am
Sunday : Closed
What we like : Daily happy hour from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, and 9:30pm to 10:30pm!
WiFi : Yes
Summary table – WiFi/4G network at UEFA Euro 2016 host cities
