Briançon Diables Rouges Tickets 2026-27: Home Game Guide
The Diables Rouges de Briançon play hockey in the highest sub-prefecture town in France, in a small rink where the crowd is on top of the ice. This guide covers the 2026-27 home schedule, the Gap derby and how to book seats.
Briançon Diables Rouges: a mountain club with a title to its name
Briançon is a fortified town in the Hautes-Alpes, known for its Vauban defences, and it has one of the more distinctive hockey stories in France. The Diables Rouges were founded in 1934 and won the French championship in 2014, a result that still defines the club's reputation. Watching them means seeing a small-town team in a high-altitude setting that most visitors will remember more for the scenery than for the score.
The 2026-27 season opens at home on 15 September 2026 against Rouen, which is a strong first test, and the schedule lists 22 home games.
Briançon's Patinoire René Froger: a compact rink with 2,300 seats
The Diables Rouges play at the Patinoire René Froger, with a capacity of 2,300. It is one of the smaller buildings in the league, which is exactly why it is atmospheric: noise bounces off the walls, and from almost any seat you can follow the puck's every move.
- Getting there: Briançon is a small town, so the rink is generally reached on foot or by a short local hop from the centre or station area.
- Winter: evenings are cold at this altitude, so bring proper layers for the walk back.
- Arrive early: with only 2,300 places, the best seats go early on busy nights.
Beyond the ice: a Briançon visit
Briançon sits at roughly 1,300 metres and has a UNESCO-listed set of fortifications by Vauban above the old town, the Cité Vauban, which is a rewarding walk before a game. Cafés and small restaurants cluster in the upper town, so you can eat early and still reach the rink in good time.
The surrounding Serre Chevalier valley is a winter sports area, which means accommodation gets busy in the school holidays; if your hockey weekend overlaps with ski season, reserve a bed well ahead.
Atmosphere at Briançon and the Alpine derby
Briançon fans are loyal and loud, and the intimacy of the building makes the opponents' life uncomfortable. The most anticipated date is the neighbour clash with Gap, the other Hautes-Alpes club, which visits on 13 November 2026 and 29 January 2027.
Chamonix comes on 27 September 2026 and 24 February 2027, a nice pairing for a mountain-themed weekend. Rouen, the most decorated team in the league, opens the season in town, so the first game is a good one for visitors who want to see the big names.
How to book Briançon tickets and plan the trip
Always start with the club's official box office. Season-ticket holders get priority, and in a rink with 2,300 places the Gap game can sell out early.
- Derby and opening games: book as soon as sales open.
- Weeknights: easier at short notice.
- From abroad: confirm the delivery method for online tickets.
- Be cautious with resale marketplaces.
Briançon is a long way from many airports, so plan your return trip before choosing a late match. An email alert from us will tell you when the calendar changes.