INFO LE FIGARO – The Ile-de-France club is waiting to know if it will be authorized by the prefecture of 92 to accommodate 5,000 spectators despite the closed roof of its Arena. In minimum terms, the losses linked to the running cost could lead him to prefer to play without an audience.
The announcement of Jean Castex threw a cold on the Top 14. From January 3, and for at least three weeks, the gauges are back in sports arenas. 5000 spectators outdoors and 2000 indoors. A second case that could apply to Paris La Défense Arena, a stadium which has the specificity of having a closed roof. A low gauge which, if it were to be confirmed, could push the leaders of Racing 92 to prefer the camera in order to limit the financial losses given the fixed operating costs. With such a gauge, the Ile-de-France club would indeed lose more than 100,000 euros per meeting.
“All avenues are considered», Confides to Figaro a source close to the club. Which reveals that a file will be filed with the Hauts-de-Seine prefecture, ultimately deciding on the height of the gauge. The goal being to obtain a gauge of 5000 spectators as an outdoor stadium, the Arena having “a recent and efficient ventilation system. The air is renewed every hour, recalls our source. It also has multiple accesses to better regulate flows.“
For us, 2000 people, like a small Parisian theater, that wouldn’t make sense …
Internal source at Racing 92
On the side of Racing 92, we are also “ very attentive To the amendment which will be debated next week by the Parliament aiming to apply gauges proportional to the capacity of the speakers, and no longer fixed. It would be a question of 30 to 40% which, given the capacity of the Arena in match configuration – 30,000 spectators – could thus accommodate around 10,000. A lesser evil. Which would make more sense if we compare to certain Parisian theaters, for example, almost filled with this gauge of 2000 spectators indoors.
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Given all these unknowns, to date, nothing has been decided. On family vacations, Racing 92 president Jacky Lorenzetti is following the file attentively, but without haste, the next deadline being January 8 with the reception of Clermont. The club do not hide hoping for good news by then because the ticket office worked very well for this meeting. A match that was to be a breath of fresh air after two meetings already canceled, against Pau and then the Ospreys in the Champions Cup, for losses even before the introduction of the gauges, between invoices due to caterers and reimbursement of tickets …
What about the services in the boxes?
What will the position of Racing 92 be? It depends on the number of spectators that it will be possible to accommodate. “Behind closed doors is not the preferred avenue. »Except in the case where the gauge had to remain at 2000 spectators. There is also another unresolved issue, the decrees have not yet been issued, and common to all the clubs of the Top 14, concerning the services. Will we be able, or not, to serve food and drink in the boxes and lounges?
About 2000 spectators are concerned by these hospitalities, which bring in a lot to the Top 14 clubs. “Rugby is a convivial sport whose resources, more than 60% on average, are linked to the presence of the public and partners during matches.“, Had underlined the League during the announcements of the Prime Minister.