Asvel’s next two matches scheduled at the LDLC Arena have been canceled. (Photo by OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE / AFP)
In great difficulty in the Euroleague, Asvel has just canceled its next two European matches scheduled at the LDLC Arena, to reschedule them at the Astroballe, more modest in size.
Adrift in the Euroleague, where it suffered a sixteenth defeat this season in Belgrade on Tuesday evening, for only two victories, Asvel seems to be having difficulty filling the LDLC Arena. Tony Parker’s club, which aims to buy the Décines venue owned by OL Groupe and inaugurated at the end of November, has just canceled its next two Euroleague matches scheduled for January 4, against Zalgiris Kaunas, and January 12, opposite Alba Berlin, in the 12,000-seat enclosure.
Read also: Asvel inaugurates the LDLC Arena with a defeat at the end of the suspense
LDLC Arena 12,000 seats – Astroballe 5,500
Officially, no justification has been put forward by the club, but these two meetings will ultimately take place at the Astroballe, the historic Asvel venue located in Villeurbanne. A room whose capacity does not exceed 5,500 seats. Red lantern of the Euroleague with nine defeats at home since the start of the season, Villeurbanne, which achieved its record attendance at the LDLC Arena less than a week ago by welcoming 11,524 supporters against Real Madrid, seems to have more difficulty moving the crowds against less prestigious teams than the reigning European champion.
Crowds at the LDLC Arena during Asvel matches
December 28: 𝟭𝟭 𝟱𝟮𝟰 supporters (defeat to Real Madrid);
December 22: 𝟴 𝟰𝟴𝟴 supporters (defeat against Olympiakos);
December 14: 8 325 supporters (defeat to Panathinaikos);
December 8: 8 287 supporters (defeat against Valencia);
November 23: 11 354 supporters (inauguration and defeat against Bayern Munich).
Since the inauguration evening of the LDLC Arena on November 23, which saw 11,354 supporters attend the defeat against Bayern Munich, Asvel has never really filled up its new room dedicated to European matches. Only 8,287 supporters were welcomed on December 8 during the defeat against Valencia, on December 14 there were 8,325 to see Asvel fall against Panathinaikos and on December 22 the club counted 8,488 during the reception of Olympiakos, which also ended in defeat.
Five more matches scheduled at the LDLC Arena
According to our colleagues from the Team, with the exception of matches against Zalgiris and Alba, the club would not plan to cancel other Euroleague matches initially scheduled at the LDLC Arena. According to the club’s calendar, the next match scheduled at the LDLC Arena is against Fenerbahce on January 30, before matches against Olympia Milan (March 1), Andalusian Efes Istanbul (March 15), Monaco (March 28). and FC Barcelona (April 12).
With these two deprogrammings, Asvel should therefore only play 10 Euroleague matches this year at the LDLC Arena compared to the 11 initially announced, the match against Valencia (last December 8) having finally been added to the venue’s calendar. Decines. For the record, ultimately the project led by Tony Parker and presented during the inauguration of the LDLC Arena plans to play 13 Euroleague matches at Asvel in Décines and 4 at the Astroballe in Villeurbanne.
✍️ 11 dates to check off on your calendar!
The adventure @ldlc_arena starts on November 23.#LDLCASVEL pic.twitter.com/ESF4ptyGRB
— LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) September 12, 2023
Supporters doubtful about
For the moment the account is not there and on X (ex-Twitter) certain supporters do not hide their frustration after these two deprogrammings. “So is there a refund planned if we had already purchased tickets at the Arena?“, wrote Tails Weasel on January 1 in a post announcing the match against Zalgiris Kaunas at the Astroballe. Contacted on this subject, the club has not yet responded to our requests.
What is the sports project?
The one in the room we understood it but now that the matches are relocated to the astroball because it is impossible to fill it we can wonder.
The boss watches the matches?— I Love This Game (@lovethisgameLBJ) January 2, 2024
Under the latest publication from Asvel announcing the next matches in Villeurbanne after Tuesday evening’s defeat in Belgrade, the comments are now more vehement like the one posted by Davpieg: “It makes me want to go astroballing!! Besides, what an admission of failure not to be at the LDLC arena… impossible to fulfill with this pitiful level of play!!”.
2024-01-03 08:43:51
#Asvel #forfeits #Euroleague #matches #LDLC #Arena
