As the May 30th Champions League final approaches, the question of where fans can gather to watch the PSG-Arsenal match across Île-de-France remains a central concern. For the second consecutive year, Paris itself will not host any official fan zones. The city’s police prefecture expressed opposition to such gatherings, citing the substantial deployment of security forces already required for three major concerts scheduled simultaneously at the Stade de France, La Défense Arena, and Accor Arena. Instead, an exclusive screening of the match on a giant screen is planned within the Parc des Princes, with tickets starting from 19 euros. Local bars and restaurants are also preparing for an influx of supporters. However, orchestrating public celebrations for the match across the broader Île-de-France region presents a substantial security conundrum.

Ongoing discussions with prefectures

Official fan zones for this final appear to be a rare occurrence. Currently, none have been announced in Hauts-de-Seine, where Prefect Alexandre Brugère has explicitly advised mayors against organizing them, emphasizing the need for police resources to remain concentrated in Paris. In Seine-Saint-Denis, talks are ongoing between the prefecture and local mayors. Bally Bagayoko, the mayor of Saint-Denis, stated on May 14 that his municipality seeks assurances regarding security provisions to effectively secure any potential fan zones. He also mentioned that various community organizations are keen to propose