Olympique De Lyon Will Wait Until After Euros To Name New Stadium

French Ligue 1 side Olympique de Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas confirmed that the naming of the club’s new Stade des Lumières will occur “after the Euros,” according to FOOT01. Aulas: “There are a number of negotiations going on right now. …For the Euros, we will be a ‘clean stadium,’ so we are under less pressure to finalize a deal. But for the Rihanna concert on July 19, I can guarantee that the stadium will have a name.” Aulas added, “The only naming deal we’ve signed so far is for our academy at Meyzieu: The Groupama Academy, which will be the first in in France to host girls and boys” (FOOT01, 12/1). FRANCETV’s Philippe Bette reported the Stade des Lumières is “now connected to the tram.” The new line, inaugurated Tuesday, “will serve the Olympique de Lyon grounds from a station situated 400m from the Part Dieu gates.” The new addition’s first test “will come Jan. 9 when OL hosts Troyes for the stadium’s grand reopening” (FRANCETV, 12/1).