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.
5,000 spectators outdoors and 2,000 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 closed door 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.
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“
All avenues are being considered,
” confides a source inside the club to Le Figaro.
Which reveals that a file will be filed with the Hauts-de-Seine prefecture, ultimately deciding on the height of the gauge.
The goal is to obtain a gauge of 5,000 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, 2,000 people, just 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 is about 30 to 40% which, given the capacity of the stadium in match configuration - 30,000 spectators - could allow us to accommodate 10,000 in complete safety.
For us, 2,000 people, just like a small Parisian theater, that wouldn't make sense…
”
Read also Covid-19: a first step towards a proportional gauge in sports speakers
Considering all these unknowns, “
to this day, nothing has been decided.
"On family vacations, Racing 92 president Jacky Lorenzetti is following the file"
carefully
", but without haste, the next deadline being January 8 with the reception of Clermont.
“
We hope for good news by then because the ticket office worked very well for this meeting.
If we could keep as many spectators as possible… This match 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 already 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? For the moment, “
all avenues are under study
”. With the hope of being able to welcome spectators. “
Behind closed doors is not the preferred avenue.
”Except in the case where the gauge had to remain at 2,000 spectators. “
There is also another unresolved issue, the decrees not yet issued, concerning benefits. Will we be able, or not, to serve food and drink in the boxes and lounges?
"
About 2,000 spectators are affected by these hospitalities, which bring 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 to partners during matches
" , had underlined the League during the announcements of the Prime Minister.
