There was no debate or suspense.
"It is undoubtedly the fastest general assembly that we have had since the beginning of this period", confides a leader present at the videoconference of the Basketball League (LNB).
This Tuesday, January 19, professional French basketball had to decide on whether or not to hold Jeep Elite and Pro B matches until the international break in February.
If some clubs pleaded for a break due to the worsening health situation, others, more numerous, had recently communicated on their willingness to play, like Boulogne-Levallois or Monaco.
They won their case.
Mostly.
“For the Jeep Elite, it was decided that, from January 20, 2021 to February 15, 2021, each team will participate in 2 championship games, including 1 necessarily at home behind closed doors, indicates the press release from the LNB.
For Pro B, it has been decided that the period from January 20, 2021 to February 15, 2021 will be used to play a maximum of games postponed since the start of the season.
These matches, which will be played behind closed doors, will make it possible to reach at least 7 full days by February 15, 2021. "
🗞 Press release
Find all the decisions taken during the General Assembly on January 19, 2021 ⤵️ # JeepELITE #PROB #LNB https://t.co/ka6vBQeCG2
- LNB (@LNBofficiel) January 19, 2021
Last spring, after the first confinement, the clubs had yet noted the fact of not playing in the event of a closed session.
According to estimates, the organization of a match without an audience would cause a financial loss of 110,000 euros on average per Jeep Elite club, 35,000 euros for a Pro B club. Some representatives are already in great economic difficulty.
"It's a real problem to play behind closed doors," confirms Frédéric Donnadieu, general manager of Nanterre who has not been spared by the Covid.
But we all agree to make a new effort to play a home game before the break.
This allows to keep a minimum of basketball news while all other sports continue to play, to keep the link with the supporters and to advance in the championship.
"
"We're not really any further along"
Since this season, Jeep Elite matches have been broadcast unencrypted on La Chaîne L'Equipe and Sport in France, achieving great audiences (409,000 viewers for the match between Dijon and Cholet on December 12).
In Orleans (Jeep Elite), where each game behind closed doors corresponds to a financial loss of around € 120,000, we welcome the vote with philosophy.
“The closed door hurts us but we can still play one or two, said Vincent Fontaine, general manager of the Loiret club who will play three games during this period, one of which was late with the reception of Monaco.
But what is important now is above all to have visibility for the rest and the end of the season.
"
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Because this vote only responds to a very short-term problem.
“The real discussion will take place at the end of February,” says Frédéric Donnadieu.
For now, we are not really further ahead.
We have to consider the different scenarios at the end of the season.
The clubs will meet in February to propose several hypotheses, with or without playoffs.
