The Group Stage of the highly anticipated UEFA Euro Cup 2016 occurs at ten French venues from June 10 to July 10. It is the 15th edition of the UEFA European Championship, a quadrennial international football championship. The Championship, founded in 1960, was the brainchild of former UEFA President Henri Delaunay.
Football enthusiasts from Europe and around the world will share in the revelry and excitement of the 2016 edition this summer. For the period leading up to and including the 31-day event, Jetex will provide ground support and trip planning services to hundreds of clients that want to attend this major competition. Jetex is well prepared for more private jet traffic than usual. We expect more than 100 flights/day at Paris Le Bourget, and we are ready!
UEFA Euro Cup 2016 Background Information
The UEFA awarded France the honor of hosting Euro 2016 on May 28, 2010 after competing against Italy and Turkey for the honor. France previously hosted the event in 1960 and 1984.
The championship now features 24 teams at the Group Stage. France, as the host nation, automatically gets a berth. Fifty-three teams competed for the other 23 spots. To accommodate 24 teams, the competition will feature 51 games played over 31 days, rather than the 31 games required during the previous 16-team championships.
The 24 qualifiers are, in alphabetical order, Albania, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Northern Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales.
Spain is the defending champion. Germany qualified for the 12th straight time, and England became only the sixth team in history to record a perfect record during qualifying when it won all 10 of its matches.
Euro Cup 2016 Spurs Stadium Development
France’s national stadium in Saint-Denis, the Stade de France, is one of the ten venues. The stadium in Saint-Denis sports the greatest UEFA Euro 2016 capacity: 81,338. France will square off against Romania in the inaugural match here on June 10th. Competition gets underway in earnest on June 11.
Once UEFA officials named France as the host of the 2016 event, a number of pending French stadium projects were given a boost. Recently constructed stadiums in Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon and Lille will host matches.
Lyon replaced its former stadium, the Stade de Gerland, with the Grand Stade OL in January 2016. The 56,186-seat stadium cost €415 million. Lyon’s spectacular new venue will host six games during UEFA Euro 2016, including Belgium v. Italy on June 13, Northern Ireland v. Ukraine on June 16, Romania v. Albania on June 19, and Hungary v. Portugal on June 22. It will also host a Round of 16 match on June 26 and a semi-final contest on July 6.
The Stade Matmut Atlantique was completed in April 2015, and it opened May 18, 2015. The 42,115-seat facility cost an estimated €168 million. The elegant architecture results in a light and open feeling, enhanced by the dozens of slender columns that support the stands and more. The stadium hosts Wales v. Slovakia on June 11, Austria v. Hungary on June 14, Belgium v. republic of Ireland on June 18 and Croatia v. Spain on June 21. It will also host a Quarter-Final match on July 2.
The Stade Pierre Mauroy, in the Lille suburb of Villeneuve d’Ascoq, opened on August 17, 2012. It is just 6 km southeast of Lille’s city center. The stadium, originally named the Grande Stade Lille Metropole, was renamed on June 21, 2013, to honor the former French Prime Minister and Mayor of Lille. The complex includes a hotel and restaurant, and it cost €324 million to construct. The retractable-roof stadium seats 50,186. The stadium will host Germany v. Ukraine on June 12, Russia v. Slovakia on June 15, Switzerland v. France on June 19 and Italy v. Republic of Ireland on June 22. It will also host a Round of 16 match on June 26, and a Quarter-Final contest on July 1.
Construction of the Alliance Riviera in Nice began in 2011, and the facility opened in September 2013. The €245 million stadium seats 35,624. Authorities originally planned to complete the stadium project in 2007, but it stalled over budgetary concerns. Many credit the UEFA 2016 Championship for helping to revive the project and usher it to completion. It will host Poland v. Northern Ireland on June 12, Spain v. Turkey on June 17 and Sweden v. Belgium on June 22. On June 27, it will host a Round of 16 match.
The Parc des Princes in Paris, the Stadium de Toulouse in Toulouse, the Stade Geoffrey Guichard in Saint-Etienne, the Stade Velodrome in Marseille and the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens Agglo will also host matches.
The final contest to determine the winner of the Henri Delaunay Cup is scheduled for July 10th at the Stade de France. The 2016 champion will compete at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.
Distance From Le Bourget to 2016 Euro Cup Venues
Distance to all ten sites participating in the 2016 Euro Cup Championship, from closest to furthest:
- Le Bourget to Paris’ Stadt de France ~ 8 km (5 mi)
- Le Bourget to Paris’ Parc des Princes ~ 22 km (13.7 mi)
- Le Bourget to Lens Agglo ~ 185 km (115 mi)
- Le Bourget to Lille ~ 206 km (128 mi)
- Le Bourget to Lyon ~ 505 km (314 mi)
- Le Bourget to Saint-Etienne ~ 563 km (350 mi)
- Le Bourget to Bordeaux ~ 600 km (373 mi)
- Le Bourget to Toulouse ~ 696 km (432 mi)
- Le Bourget to Marseille ~ 792 km (492 mi)
- Le Bourget to Nice ~ 948 km (589 mi)
Note that the two Paris venues are relatively close to Le Bourget Airport. Jetex can easily arrange for efficient ground transportation to both the Stadt de France and the Parc des Princes. We’ll also assist with flight planning and VIP transportation services if you wish to attend matches at any of the 8 venues outside of Paris.
More About Le Bourget Airport
Le Bourget Airport (ICAO: LFPB, IATA: LBG) is approximately 11 km (6.9 mi) north-northeast of Paris’ city center. It is a general aviation facility with an emphasis on international and domestic business aviation and air shows. The Paris Air Show is the world’s oldest such event. It is staged in odd-numbered years. At the 2015 show, 2,303 exhibitors from 48 countries greeted 150,000 professionals and 200,000 general visitors. The 52nd Paris Air Show is scheduled for June 19-25, 2017.
Le Bourget was the only airport in Paris from 1919 until Orly Airport opened in 1932. International commercial flight operations ceased in 1977, and domestic flights ended in 1980. The aviation museum at Le Bourget is one of the oldest in the world. It features over 150 aircraft along with items dating to the 16th century. The museum occupies 1.6 million sq ft of land and hangers along the southeastern edge of the facility.
FBO Services at Le Bourget
Our Le Bourget FBO offers more than 20,000 square meters of parking space for our private aircraft clientele, along with private car parking for both passengers and crew. Take full advantage of our concierge services so that you see more of the action during your stay, including hotel booking, limousine, helicopter transfers and shopping. We’ll gladly provide you with trip planning services if you plan to attend matches at other venues scattered across the country.
Contact Us Today
Since Jetex’ inception in 2005, global flight support operations have grown to include over 600 employees with the requisite skills needed to meet the diverse needs of our clientele. State-of-the-art systems provide vital information 24/7. The first Jetex FBO opened at Le Bourget in 2009. Click here for a virtual tour of our FBO lounge, reception area and airside facilities at Le Bourget.
Jetex is ready to meet your ground support, fueling/refueling and trip planning requirements during the 2016 Euro Cup competition. Please contact us today for prompt, friendly and professional assistance.
