Bass and basketball.
These are the two themes of the evening at the Adidas Arena, punctuated by the sound of the speakers pre-match and post-match with a concert by rapper Zola and by Paris Basketball baskets by Nadir Hifi or Tyson Ward.
The new setting in the north of the capital, erected between the ring road and the towers of the 18th arrondissement, had a beautiful inauguration that will be remembered for a long time by the main players.
“The first one only exists once,” smiles the giant Michael Kessens (2.02 m), pivot of Paris Basketball.
We did a good job.
I hope people enjoyed it!
»
There was something there.
Already because this new room is “very beautiful”, as summarized by the Saint-Quentin player, William Pfister, who leaves with a 22-point defeat in his bags (87-65).
“We were delighted to be there despite everything,” continues his trainer Julien Mahé.
It’s a very nice, well-made basketball hall.
It is well suited for this sport with a fairly close audience.
» The only regret of the Aisne club comes from the problems encountered by its public, arriving late due to Parisian traffic jams and in reduced numbers due to the price charged: 39 euros per seat.
“It’s a real subject,” assumes Julien Mahé.
Our sport must remain popular.
»
Despite the strong presence of a VIP audience (1,000 of the 8,000 seats are in boxes), the Adidas Arena was able to ignite, particularly at the end of the match.
“We hope to see an atmosphere like that again quickly,” says Michael Kessens.
She was there, despite our fault, because the match was a little slow.
It was not easy to engage the supporters.
But halfway through the third quarter, we pushed the tempo.
Nadir (Hifi) got fired up as he knows how and the public joined us.
» The usual kop of around a hundred people from the Carpentier hall, formerly the Paris Basketball hall, helped a lot.
Just like the NBA-style entertainment throughout the match.
For Parisian basketball players, this new room represents above all a new tool.
Asked about the differences with the dilapidated Carpentier hall, Michael Kessens retorts: “The question is rather what does not change (laughs).
It's a basketball hall, a real one, with a project.
The changing rooms are the main change, everything is modern.
It's cool.
You know, a lot of clubs talk about a new room... But Paris Basketball has done it.
He made it happen and I want to commend that.
Now, the results must be there and that's also why we are satisfied with the first evening.
»
The ambition of American President David Kahn is clear: to create a major club in Paris.
“It was a very special evening,” continues Finnish coach Tuomas Lisalo.
I've only been in Paris since August.
But it is a privilege to be part of such a project.
There are people at the club who work hard for that, for a better future, for us to have a house of our own.
» “It’s the start of something,” explains Julien Mahé, coach of Saint-Quentin.
For French basketball, having a big club in Paris is a very good thing.
As a coach, except tonight, it's a pleasure to watch this team play.
»Who will return to this Adidas Arena, which he rents, 35 to 45 times per season.
And not just for sport, according to Tuomas Lisalo: “The main new thing is that we have our own changing rooms, with names on the lockers and a speaker system.
Players can put on their music even if I don't know any of the artists (laughs).
".
Basketball and bass, then.