West & North Stands from South Stand corner

East Stand from West Stand

Appartments behind south goals Photo © Gérard Valck

The Stade de Saint-Ouen was home to Red Star for over eighty-five years, but was also used for other events, such as Rugby League, motorbikes, concerts and political meetings. But it's main purpose was of course football. The national team played several matches there between 1911 and 1914 as well as a match during the Paris Olympics of 1924.
Other clubs have also used the stadium, including the CAP and Stade Français, Division Two clubs at that time. Paris Saint-Germain also played First Division matches before debunking to the Parc des Princes.
There have been numerous Cup games played at Saint-Ouen, featuring clubs from the Paris region as well as clubs from the overseas territories of France. The list also includes Under-21 international matches, the Under-21s Cup Final (Cup Gambardella), international friendlies between clubs and countries, such as Portugal and Bulgaria and more recently a pre-World Cup '98 Brazil-Andorra. Generations of great players from Chayriguès to Ronaldo have walked out onto the hallowed turf at the Stade Municipal de Saint-Ouen, which has also carried the names Stade de la Porte de Paris and more recently, Stade Bauer. The latter is also the name of the street where sits the stadium. Bauer was a doctor who participated in the wartime resistance to the Nazis, and was executed by the Germans in 1942.

The photo left was taken on the day of the official inauguration of the "new" stand behind the goal, in 1976 at Saint-Ouen. The short-lived electric scoreboard, which only lasted one season was rare at this time in France, and not many photo exist of this contraption !
Red Star made theire triumphal return to Stade Bauer during the 2002-2003 season. A crowd of 1500 turned up to watch the local derby in the CFA 2 between Red Star and Aubervilliers.
See the photos of this day. Today the ground is still three sided, but effectively only two sides are open to the public. The 1976 stand is rarely used however, as the main stand is adequate for the crowds the club gets. The fences are still in place, despite Monsieur Bras' great promises back in 1996. Despite the inconveniencies, Stade Bauer is a classic football ground and is worth a visit. Eventually, should Red Star reach their previous heights, the ground will have to be rebuilt, but for the moment, when in Paris, hop on a line 13 metro train to Mairie de Saint Ouen, turn right under the Patinoire building and follow rue Bauer until you see the floodlights.

Compare the above photo, taken in 1972 with the similar viewpoint in 1998

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