As the May 30th Champions League final between PSG and Arsenal draws near, the question of where fans can gather to watch the match has become a central concern. For the second consecutive year, Paris will not feature official fan zones. The prefecture of police opposes such gatherings, citing the substantial police presence required for three major concerts happening concurrently at the Stade de France, La Défense Arena, and the Accor Arena.

Instead, a dedicated retransmission of the match on a giant screen is scheduled at the Parc des Princes, with tickets available from 19 euros. Local bars and restaurants are also preparing for increased patronage. Across the wider Île-de-France region, organizing public celebrations around this highly anticipated match presents a considerable security dilemma.

Dialogue underway with regional prefectures

Official PSG Arsenal fan zones will be notably scarce for this year’s final. Currently, none have been announced in Hauts-de-Seine, where Prefect Alexandre Brugère has advised mayors against organizing them, emphasizing the need for law enforcement to concentrate on Paris. In Seine-Saint-Denis, discussions are ongoing between the prefect and local mayors. Bally Bagayoko, Mayor of Saint-Denis, stated on May 14th via social media that municipalities require security guarantees from the prefecture to safely host fan zones. He also expressed support for