Olympic Football Unpopular? Cold Atmosphere Surrounds Marseille Stadium for France Men’s Team Debut

On the morning of July 25, ahead of the French Olympic team’s first match against the USA, led by Thierry Henry, the atmosphere around the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille was notably quiet. Restaurants and businesses in the area were virtually empty, lacking the buzz typically associated with major sporting events.

According to a report by RMC Sport, on the 24th, locals in Marseille seemed indifferent about their national team’s participation in the Olympics. Facilities around the stadium were largely deserted.

This lack of excitement even surprised two Belgian tourists: “We came here as usual, but it’s very quiet. There’s none of the hustle and bustle we expected. We’re almost wondering if the Olympics are really happening. It’s quite surprising!”

In addition, to ensure smooth operations during the Olympics, traffic restrictions were put in place around the Stade Vélodrome (formerly known as the Stade Vélodrome), and some parking lots were closed. This has further frustrated local residents, one of whom said in an interview, “Traveling around here is difficult now, but luckily I have a bike.”

The owners of restaurants near the stadium generally had a pessimistic outlook, with few customers both inside and on terraces. One owner told reporters, “In previous years, we used to be fully booked, with up to 150-200 tables per day. Now, we have no more than 15 tables at most.” “Everyone is worried about the situation here. Some are concerned about the lack of parking spaces, while others worry about traffic. This used to be a bustling area, but now it’s empty.”

Regarding hotel occupancy rates, the average across hotels in the area is currently 65%, down 15% from last year, making it unlikely that they will generate significant revenue from the Olympics.

Upcoming matches at the Stade Vélodrome include ten games from the men’s and women’s football group stages through to the semi-finals, with tickets still available for each game.