Paris La Défense Arena.

(Illustration) -

IBO / SIPA

  • Paris La Défense Arena receives a boxing night for the first time on Friday.

  • The next day at 2 p.m., the venue will host the Champions Cup semi-final between Racing 92 and London club Saracens.

  • In addition to transforming the Arena in less than 12 hours, the room will host these two events with all new health instructions related to Covid-19.

A race against time for Paris La Défense Arena.

The Nanterre venue must, within a very short time, succeed in organizing two events.

And not the least.

This Friday, she hosts her first boxing meeting with six fights including the highly anticipated between Tony Yoka and Johann Duhaupas.

Saturday at 2 p.m. will take place the semi-final of the Rugby Champions Cup between Racing 92 and Saracens.

A Boxing / Rugby sequence in less than 24 hours

“The work has already started, it is a permanent job, blows Jean-Marc Poissenot, director of operations of Paris La Défense Arena.

We have been mobilized since last Saturday to establish two modes of configuration changes.

The upstream communication work is essential, all the teams are aware of every act and deed.

“There is a lot of internal communication with all the players in the company.

"

The operations manager knows that the project is ambitious but achievable: “The change in the configuration of the room for the rugby match is done directly after the boxing evening.

We take out the athletes and spectators and as soon as everything is empty, we start.

This is the first time that the venue has such tight timing to organize two events.

A spectacular organization

“It's an exceptional situation.

But the goal of the Arena since its opening is precisely to be able to quickly change shape to host this type of event, ”enthuses Jean-Marc Poissenot.

This weekend will therefore be the best way to find out if the hybrid room can hold its bet.

“Everything will come together very quickly, we block the room for boxing and then we move for rugby.

And then we set up again at six o'clock in the morning because the next day, we receive a convention… ”Ninety people are mobilized to work on the change of configuration.

The sports equipment, the bleachers, the specific rugby surface to set up… All these changes must be made at least two hours before the start of the semi-final.

Without forgetting the lawn.

“We climb onto the synthetic spoke with protective plates which are always cleaned, then we dismantle them to be able to use a tractor which will mow the grass again.

We also use a magnet to remove any metal waste ”.

The official Canal + Boxe account posted on Twitter two videos of athletes who discovered the room.

We then notice the presence of the large lit screen on which scrolls videos on the sidelines of the fight.

The boxers have already seen a teaser projected by the 44 projectors.

This same screen will also be used for the Racing 92 match.

🔥 "The room is magnificent!"

😍



💥 D-4 before #YokaDuhaupas & the big boxing night at @ParisLaDefArena 🥊 Before the fight, @TonyYoka & @JohannDuhaupas were impressed by the room!



🎟 Last places on sale ➡ https://t.co/QrVDYSHuo8@CanalplusBoxe @allstarboxingfr pic.twitter.com/rn9f0NxFE9

- Paris La Défense Arena (@ParisLaDefArena) September 21, 2020

Tight timing under Covid

In addition to the challenge of an ultra-fast change of scenery, Paris La Défense Arena faces, like all performance venues, health constraints resulting from the Covid-19.

However, these rules are now a little routine for the teams in the room.

"Our establishment sets up health instructions for all events, just like all companies in the entertainment world," confirms Jean-Marc Poissenot.

Wearing a mask is compulsory, respecting the physical distance of one meter between each person or even a direction of movement to follow ... “The health crisis does not make things easier, but measures are necessary.

It doesn't take us any longer, but we work differently ”.

The Arena has already applied all these rules, including the test of athletes before the events, two weeks ago during the match between the rugby players of Racing 92 and Montpellier and "everything went very well", rejoices the operations manager.

😷 Masks, contactless searches, barrier gestures ... thank you all for respecting the health instructions for this great return to @ParisLaDefArena 🙏🏻



👀 Continue to adopt the right gestures when leaving the room!



Find the info here ➡️ https://t.co/aM0LKJJIse pic.twitter.com/0DeSHtGAqB

- Paris La Défense Arena (@ParisLaDefArena) September 11, 2020

“It's a big job and a challenge for a team struggling for the success of these events.

I think everyone in the workforce is ready and willing.

"

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  • Covid 19

  • Nanterre

  • Paris

  • Evening

  • Rugby

  • Boxing

  • Sport