we were at the inauguration of the Adidas Arena, the new Paris Basketball venue dedicated to “urban sports”

This 8,000-seat hall (in sports configuration) will notably host badminton events during the Olympic Games. It is promised to become an “urban” temple, between MMA fights and rap concerts.

In a setting made up of fireworks, disco beams and to the rhythm of a hit by the PNL duo, the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo inaugurated with great fanfare the latest “jewel” Parisian, Sunday February 11. We’re not talking about a nightclub, but the brand new Adidas Arena, located at Porte de la Chapelle, in the north of the capital. “Welcome home !”, proclaimed the Paris Basketball announcer, in front of a sold-out crowd. The current 5th in the French championship wrote the first page of a new chapter with a victory against Saint-Quentin (87-65).

The party began at the beginning of the afternoon when, in front of an audience of journalists and political leaders – including Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra –Anne Hidalgo announced “the beginning of the beginning of the magic of the Games”. This hall is in fact the only equipment dedicated to the Olympic and Paralympic Games built within Paris. Completed on time, two and a half years after the start of the work, estimated at 138 million euros, the Arena will host badminton, rhythmic gymnastics, para-badminton and powerlifting events.

A unique gauge in Île-de-France

Easily recognizable in this urban node at the junction of the 18th arrondissement of Paris and the Seine-Saint-Denis, the Adidas Arena resembles an island of gray concrete. Inside, the seats – made from recyclable materials – are exclusively black and very close to parquet. Above all, the room is filled with references to Adidas, which offered itself, through a naming contract worth 2.2 million euros per year, this great visibility.

Managed by the Paris Entertainment Company (also in charge of the Accor Arena in Bercy and the Bataclan), the venue boasts a “urban and street positioning”. It has a unique capacity in Île-de-France (8,000 seats for sports and up to 9,000 for concerts), halfway between the 20,000 seats at Bercy and the 6,000 at the Zénith.

In addition to basketball, emerging sports events such as MMA or skateboarding are expected there, while the first scheduled concerts partly concern rap. The clamor with which the star rapper Zola was greeted during a mini-show after the meeting on Sunday gave a first glimpse of this identity and the resonance of what the leaders of Paris Basketball hope to become a “mini cauldron”.

“I’m coming for the concert too, even if I’m primarily a basketball fan”, Tino conceded before the “event”. Neither the 100 km journey from Evreux, where he lives, nor the 106€ to be placed “in the first row” did not put off the 18-year-old young man. He was able to observe many stars up close, such as the footballer Ousmane Dembélé or, opposite, the former Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.

A vast development plan for the district

Valérie, in her forties, did not have this privilege but was attracted by “curiosity” of this equipment located… right in front of her house. “We won’t come every day, but it’s good that the neighborhood is changing”, she rejoices. This Arena, attached to the ring road in the far north of Paris, is part of a vast development plan for the popular Chapelle district, on which the town hall has been working since “20 years”assures Anne Hidalgo. “500 million euros have been invested in the district”, notes Emmanuel Grégoire, his first deputy. A university campus is notably expected there.

Beyond the simple equipment intended for the high level, the Arena also has two gymnasiums, one of which has 750 seats, intended for the use of local clubs and schools. “It’s true that it was lacking. Apart from two football fields, there wasn’t much here”notes Mariam, a mother who grew up nearby. “We are in a working-class neighborhood and we hope, however, that it will not drive out the populationshe continues. Especially since we are only moving the problems, particularly drugs or security, outside of Paris.” Accessibility also raises questions, since only lines 12 of the metro and T3B of the tram serve this setting which has no parking (but does have a bicycle garage).

“We are at the heart of the basketball public, of hip-hop and urban culture, which was orphaned by a basketball club.”

Mathias Priez, general director of Paris Basketball

at franceinfo: sport

A lot made financial efforts to attend the match, like Jennifer who spent “150 euros for three tickets”.“65% of tickets will be 25 euros or less throughout the seasonreplies Mathias Priez, general director of the club. We are also working on a partnership with local authorities to offer tickets to local residents.” In the meantime, Jennifer and her two sons, loyal to Paris Basketball, did not want to miss this change in dimension for the club. “This is a necessary development for us”continues Mathias Priez.

Previously assigned to the vibrant but limited Georges-Carpentier hall (13th arrondissement), Paris Basketball now plays in a room twice as large and worthy of its ambitions. Created in 2018, it plays leading roles in the championship and hopes, in the medium term, to join the Euroleague where AS Monaco and Asvel already play.

A springboard towards the Euroleague for Paris Basketball

Above all, Paris Basketball hopes for economic benefits “four to five times” higher on match nights. The very high prices at the refreshment bar – 6 euros for 50 cl of water, 9.5€ for a pint of beer – will help, as will the “skybar” reserved for VIPs at the very top of the room, with a bird’s eye view on the floor.

An illustration of the modernity of this room, directly inspired by several NBA settings, where club president David Kahn worked. All that remains now is to make this first attempt a reality by retaining the loyalty of this public, as much enthralled by the distribution of gifts during downtime as by the match. It will still take a little time to get to grips with this room where we could hear, at times, more of the hundred opposing supporters on Sunday evening. The good results of the club, close to the play-offs in Betclic Elite (5th) and qualified for the quarters of the Eurocup (antechamber of the Euroleague), could change the situation.