With the Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal just days away, Île-de-France faces a security puzzle in organizing public viewing spaces. Paris will not host fan zones for this year’s final, mirroring last season’s restrictions.

The Paris Police Prefecture has voiced its opposition to large-scale outdoor gatherings, citing the simultaneous need to secure three major concerts at Stade de France, La Défense Arena, and Accor Arena. These events will divert substantial police resources, leaving limited capacity for crowd management in the capital.

Limited viewing options in the region

While Paris abstains from fan zones, some neighboring municipalities are stepping up. Trappes and Carrière-sous-Poissy will host public screenings, and Saint-Germain-en-Laye plans an 8,000-person event at Camp des Loges—a closed venue that offers enhanced security controls. Mayor Arnaud Péricard emphasized the challenges: “Public events on open streets are nearly impossible under current Vigipirate terror alert levels. Even local festivals like Fête des Loges now require controlled access points.”

Security versus tradition

Cyril Dubois, a lawyer representing Ultras Paris supporters’ collective, criticized the situation: “It’s a failure not to even attempt creating safe fan zones that could unite supporters without incidents. During the semifinal against Bayern, 127 arrests occurred despite the absence of official fan zones—proving that trouble will find a way in regardless.”

Last year’s final saw 491 arrests in the Paris metropolitan area, with two fatalities reported in Paris and Dax during post-match celebrations.

Dialogue with local authorities

In Seine-Saint-Denis, prefects are negotiating with mayors about potential viewing areas. Saint-Denis Mayor Bally Bagayoko stated in a May 14 livestream: “We want assurances from the prefecture that adequate security measures will be in place to protect any citizen-led fan zones.” He also highlighted local associations’ interest in organizing “popular, community-driven fan zones” if safety conditions are met.

The security landscape extends beyond football. Mayor Péricard noted that “the shift in public event organization reflects broader societal changes, not just sports culture.”

A different experience at Parc des Princes

PSG will offer a special screening experience at Parc des Princes itself, with tickets starting at €19. Bars and restaurants across Île-de-France are also preparing for the influx of supporters, though no centralized public viewing zones will be available in the capital.