Charléty stadium will be packed this Saturday at 3 p.m. for the Paris FC vs AS Saint-Étienne clash. Between 18,000 and 19,000 fans are expected — a record for the Parisian club since it made its seats free of charge last autumn.

Why a three-stage ticket release?

Paris FC rolled out its ticketing in three waves. First came those who had subscribed before the free-seat policy, capped at four tickets per person. Next were supporters who had attended at least once this season, limited to three tickets each. Finally, the general public opened on Tuesday — a deliberate choice Arnaud Campanella, the club’s secretary-general and match organiser, stands by.

« We don’t dump all seats at once; we release them in blocks until none are left », he said. The club expects the stadium to sell out by Friday night. A method designed to cut queues and reward those who have backed the team this season.

A double-header to keep the crowd engaged

Paris FC has teamed up with AS Saint-Étienne for a twin bill: the men’s game at 3 p.m. and the women’s clash at 7:30 p.m. in the 16th round of the D1 Arkema. Between the two fixtures, the club has lined up entertainment to keep fans in their seats.

A gamble? Not for Campanella. « With this fixture, we’re almost certain the stands will be full », he reckoned. The club is banking on the pull of the AS Saint-Étienne faithful in the Paris region, despite worries about no-shows — seats booked but never used.

Extra safety for a medium-risk tie

The local authorities rated the tie medium-risk (level 2 out of 5) at the pre-match safety meeting. Two to three mobile units (150 riot police) will be on site, plus 140 stewards. Their job: manage the surge of supporters and curb trouble.

Organisers have also urged fans to claim only the seats they need. « We want to stop no-shows from blocking others », Campanella said. A lesson learned from past games where empty seats piled up.

AS Saint-Étienne, the Ligue 2 giant drawing huge crowds

Despite their Ligue 2 status, the Green-and-Whites are pulling massive away attendances. Their fanbase stretches far beyond their domestic league — a trend Paris FC has turned into an asset by making entry free. A winning move, but one that demands tight logistics to avoid gridlock.