Between the stadium and art with Lens An exciting journey that connects the Bollaert-Delelis and the Louvre-Lens

These are the little things that make Lens special. For example, the terraced houses with exposed red bricks that line the streets of the historic center. Or the terrils, the artificial hills formed by the remnants of coal mines that for nearly two centuries were the backbone of the local economy. Then there is a concrete walkway to stroll through under the shade of a forest that leads to a museum spreading across a four-hectare park. This museum is the Louvre-Lens, built on the site of an old coal mine, inaugurated in 2012, and of course connected to the famous Louvre Museum in Paris. The highlight of this museum is the Gallery of Time, an installation covering 5,000 years of history with 250 works of art from the Louvre in Paris. From the earliest Neolithic artifacts to Renaissance oil paintings, from Egyptian age sculptures to busts of the Roman Empire, from Baroque statues to contemporary art. And it is in this evocative setting that PUMA decided to present the new third jersey of Lens for the 2025/26 season.

A cream-colored jersey with a golden hue coloring the collar, shoulders, armholes, and sides. Pure and simple elegance to best celebrate the club’s 120th anniversary, an occasion also highlighted in the logo applied on the jersey in navy blue with gold trims. The Louvre-Lens served as the backdrop for the launch of this jersey that merges art and football: a concept perfectly exemplified by the photos where players were captured in front of the 1495 painting Adoration of the Magi by Luca Signorelli or the work Four Seasons by Giuseppe Arcimboldo. Afterwards, the jersey was placed in a display case and until August 18th will be part of the collection in the Gallery of Time. A curiosity for those who love art and do not follow football. The main attraction for fans who then get captivated by the charm of the surrounding artworks.

The debut on the field of the new Third jersey took place during the friendly match played last Saturday against Roma at the Bollaert-Delelis stadium, a facility inaugurated in 1933 with 38,223 seats that recalls a British aesthetic due to the four double-ring stands completely independent of each other. Reminding us that we are in the deep north of France, besides the harsh weather, is the motto Fier d'être lensois displayed in every corner of the stadium. Thousands of fans read it as they fill the stands despite it being the first weekend of August, and to take their seats they pass through the new fan zones designed by the club to improve the experience. The pride of being Lensois visually translates into the logos of miner’s pickaxes and lanterns used to light the mines decorating the newly renovated locker rooms, or the all-black design of the tunnel walls leading to the playing field, reminiscent of coal. These renovations were completed by the club this summer after finalizing the purchase of the stadium property in May 2025. Because it’s the little things that make Lens special.