Alone at the top of a stand, leaning against a still-covered seat, David Kahn seems elsewhere. As if lost in thought under his construction helmet. Can he already imagine the crowd around him, the crunch of sneakers on the freshly laid parquet floor, the play of sound and light, the drums of Kop Parisii? Is he remaking the film of his five years at the head of Paris Basketball, born on July 12, 2018 from the ashes of Hyères Toulon Var Basket
?
That of his meeting with Jean-François Martins, then deputy for Sports at Paris town hall, in February 2017, the room of his dreams scribbled on a piece of napkin? His patience has been tested, but on this cold December morning, it seems as if the project of the co-owner (with Eric Schwartz, former minority shareholder of the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA) and American president of the club finally came to life: the day before, amid the hubbub of machines and busy workers, “a security guy” scored the first basket in the new Paris Basketball den.
David Kahn, helmet screwed on his head, observes the room he has long dreamed of, a few weeks before the first match played on the brand new floor of the Adidas Arena. (Bertrand Desprez/L’Équipe)
An eco-designed site (recyclable aluminum facade, green roof, recycled cotton insulation, etc.), owned by the Paris town hall, which will host the badminton and rhythmic gymnastics events of the Olympic Games next summer, gateway to the Chapel.
Adidas Arena, the dream now has a name. And Paris a tool commensurate with an ambition so often disappointed since the last French championship title of a club from the capital, PSG Racing, in 1997: to place “the most beautiful city in the world”, according to Kahn, on the map of major European clubs. Two months before the inauguration, on February 11, for a Championship match against Saint-Quentin, the former general manager of the Indiana Pacers – who was very involved in the construction of the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, his “baby” – does not hide his excitement.
“It will be the best basketball hall in Europe”
David Kahn, president of Paris Basketball
He even speaks of “revolution”. “It will be the best basketball hall in Europe, dares Kahn, because it is intimate. Look at that seat up there. We could say that it is the furthest away, that it is not a good place. But if someone sat there right now, you could see their face clearly and wave to them. Here, every spectator will feel close to the field. »
And it is not an insult to the outdated Carpentier hall, in the 13th arrondissement, to write that Paris Basketball will change dimension here. Assuming of course that the transplant takes place in a district still associated with insecurity and drug trafficking, although in full change (redevelopment of public roads, revegetation, construction of new housing, office buildings, a University campus…).
At best, there will be 8,000 people filling the stands of the Adidas Arena, which the town hall dreams of as a symbol of renewal. Maybe a few dozen more if the club manages to add a third row of “courtside” seats, the best, at the edge of the floor. There is even talk of a standing area. Because the idea is to optimize each square meter to attract and retain new audiences.
The Carpentier hall, in the south of the capital, was very rarely full, with an average of 3,602 spectators last season. This data illustrates the challenge of attracting and retaining a new audience in its new, much larger location, located in the far north of the city. (Bertrand Desprez/L’Équipe)
After the success of its relocations to the Accor Arena and Roland-Garros, will Paris Basketball be able to bring together beyond the big posters, and more than the average 3,602 spectators at the Carpentier Hall last season?
“It would be an error to compare the two rooms and to base ourselves on the occupancy rate of Carpentier (73% in 2022-2023), says Alejandro Requena, the vice-president in charge of the club’s strategy. In terms of infrastructure, services, it’s another level of experience: the quality of the seats, the light, the sound, even the heat… Carpentier, winter is sometimes a problem, and people choose not to come because they are expecting something else. There are many people in Paris who do not yet know the Paris Basketball brand. And this Arena will allow us to get closer to another type of audience, perhaps less familiar with us, families, business leaders, CSE who are looking for a show, a level of services and experience that ‘a club must know how to offer, beyond sport. People don’t just come to see one match. »
Hence the ambition, adds Kahn, “that the product remains attractive even when the team is less successful. With an atmosphere, an ambiance, added value for the person who buys their ticket.” A little more expensive than in Carpentier, obviously, even if the price list remains to be defined. It will take time, “one or two years”, perhaps, before we see the objective of “developing a waiting list”.
“The club aims to bring everyone together, whether you are from Paris North, Paris East… I am not worried about the move to Porte de la Chapelle
Téo Nievas, general secretary of Kop Parisii, the supporters’ collective
But Paris Basketball does not start from scratch. In five years, he has already built a strong identity, at the intersection of the NBA and urban cultures – a “street” signature, to use the words of ex-coach Jean-Christophe Prat. With real local roots in the 13th century. “It’s a club whose principle is to highlight what people are and what they do,” underlines Téo Nievas, general secretary of Parisii, the club’s supporters’ collective. And who aims to bring them together, whether you are from Paris North, Paris East… I am not worried about the move to Porte de la Chapelle. »
Especially since the team coached by the Finn Tuomas Iisalo is a reflection of Paris, Kahn welcomes, “young (24 years old on average), dynamic, enterprising, ambitious, determined” and spectacular. With the second attack of Betlic Élite (84.2 points on average), of which it is close to the heights this season (third), and the first, by far, in the Eurocup (99.1), where it only lost one match out of thirteen.
The American Collin Malcolm (in white) during the Parisians’ victory against Asvel de Mbaye Ndiaye (number 24, in black) on December 10 at the Carpentier hall (92-86). (Bertrand Desprez/L’Équipe)
In the short term, it is in the Euroleague that the Nadir Hifi gang aims to establish itself, and the Adidas Arena, although a little narrow by the standards of the premier competition, should allow it to shine there. From next season, as the rumor circulated in the fall? “No,” says Kahn, who was invited to present the Paris Basketball project to Euroleague shareholders last April but does not want to rush things. Aware that the economic model of the club, whose budget has jumped by 43% since last season (from 6.5 to 9.3 million euros, far behind Asvel, 21, and Monaco, 27.5), remains to be refined.
“It is important that we move forward in the most responsible way possible for the club, its supporters and the city of Paris,” insists the president. And this responsibility implies not doing anything financially speaking. It would be irresponsible to join the Euroleague for reasons of pride and ego, even if it means losing money. »
“There is a time for everything”, he continues, and the idea of Paris Basketball is first of all to take advantage of this new room as an “accelerator” to conquer its place as “second Parisian club” behind the PSG footballers, and in front of rugby clubs or PSG hand.
“I care a hundred times more about what this room will change for the spectators than for the players”
What will be a “priority”, he assumes, through the comfort of spectators, the “customer experience” of his “consumers”. “I want to say it very clearly: I care a hundred times more about what this room will change for the spectators than for the players. I love our players and I want them to feel proud to play here. But these rooms are first and foremost made for people. And it is because they will love basketball, but also the gym, that they will decide to come and spend money there for themselves, their family, their friends rather than going to the cinema or a restaurant. We have to make sure we offer them a product that exceeds their expectations. » Does this mean that business will always come before sports for him? “No, they go hand in hand,” corrects the American president. It’s sports business. »
While waiting for the Euroleague, the wealthiest will be able to take advantage of the skybar, a 150 m² space with a bird’s-eye view of the room – “more intended for young people, influencers, for taking content”, says Requena – and the courtside lounge, a glass lounge running along the access tunnel to the changing rooms. “We will really be behind the scenes, players talking to each other, meeting each other, opponents crossing paths, things that we don’t see on TV,” enthuses the vice-president.
The brand new floor of the Adidas Arena, a few weeks before its inauguration. (Bertrand Desprez/L’Équipe)
2024-01-13 11:00:00
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