The world before?
The next one?
We don't really know where we are, but this Saturday, it's an open house operation at the Jean-Bouin stadium and it feels good.
No more closed doors or gauges, everyone can buy their ticket, on presentation of the health pass anyway, and attend the derby between the Stade Français and Racing 92 (kick off at 6.15 p.m.).
By midweek, two-thirds of the 20,000 places had already been reserved.
So there will be noise, cries, laughter, a few tears perhaps, everything that we no longer saw and heard for over a year and a half. "It's almost a return to normal," said Franck Lemann, president of the Virage des Dieux, the main association of supporters of the Stade Français. We can sense impatience among subscribers. Some will not come all the same. Either because a health pass is needed, but especially some vaccinated people find that the non-obligation to wear a mask in the stands is not reassuring. "
Others, too, will not come because they are no longer there. “Out of two hundred supporters, we have lost around thirty,” adds Franck Lemann. Most of them have moved to the provinces or two hours from Paris and only come back to work two days a week. We also deplored two deaths from Covid-19. "
The Parisian club, which does not want to miss its reunion with its audience, has decided to allow supporters who wish to meet again after the match, in the arcana of the stadium, where they can meet the players. “There has been a little disaffection in recent years,” explains Managing Director Thomas Lombard. To bring people back, we are going to create more shows around the matches and after the meetings, 1,500 people will be able to come to our bodega and recreate what made the Stade Français family spirit.
"
