Roland-Garros risks ringing hollow this year with barely 1,000 spectators per day.

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Michel Euler / AP / SIPA

“We regret this new constraint when we only had to praise ourselves for the work carried out with the State services to achieve good organizational conditions.

The tournament will only be able to accommodate 1000 spectators per day on its 16 courts.

It's a gauge 35 times lower than what we used to practice in the first week of the final table ”.

Bernard Giudicelli, the president of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), had a hard time hiding his disappointment on Friday.

Following announcements from government authorities, the Roland-Garros tournament will only welcome 1,000 spectators per day across the stadium and its 16 courts, on a 12-hectare site. # RolandGarros

- Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) September 25, 2020

100 million shortfall

Disappointment for the finances of the FFT, which have gradually seen almost all of the usual revenues, i.e. 100 million euros out of the 325 million budget between the general public and hospitality, also disappointment for tennis fans who thought they had passed between the drops and who will learn in the coming hours that they will have to watch Roland-Garros on TV.

“I wanted to share the disappointment of those who were happy to attend the tournament and who will not be able to come.

I would like to thank all the enthusiasts for their loyalty to the tournament ”.

Some had nevertheless come up like Swiss cuckoos in recent days, annoyed that Roland-Garros had sold them tickets that the organization was not sure of being able to provide in fine.

Florent had planned to come from Moselle with a friend.

“I had 2 places at the Philippe Chatrier central for the opening on Sunday.

I was very disappointed when I received an email telling me that I would be reimbursed because I was one of the losers in the draw, even if I understand, but above all I was offered places for the Lenglen the next day that I bought for nothing, and I end up with 700 euros in the air while waiting to see my money again at the end of the tournament!

But why wait until then?

I really feel like I'm serving cash.

I will come back next year because my passion and my pleasure to go are much stronger than that, but I am very disappointed with the way we were treated ”.

A draw under the supervision of a bailiff

Clément experienced the same mishap.

“Two tickets purchased on the Central canceled on September 10, then two tickets on the Lenglen at a preferential rate on the tournament's proposal, canceled on the 18th. I heard about a draw, but I have no information on the way it went ”.

Stéphane Morel, deputy director general for economic development of the FFT, reassured about the transparency of the process.

“We had to change our shoulders several times, it's a new late constraint but we still chose to allow as many people as possible to come by reserving 750 of the 1,000 places for the general public through a drawing of lots [carried out Friday morning] for each day of competition, under the supervision of a bailiff.

The lucky and the less fortunate will be contacted in the next few hours ”.

With a priority option for the 2021 edition as regards the latter, clearly in the majority.

Roland-Garros 1000 gauge: 750 spectators for the general public drawn at random 200 guests from partners and 50 elected officials and personalities having to access the stadium (FFT, AFP).

Hospital services completely eliminated (Stéphane Morel DGA of the marketing department and FFT economic devt)

- Eric Bassi (@EricBassi) September 25, 2020

Without saying it as frankly, Stéphane Morel also implied that the Federation had made the choice of the heart rather than the choice of the booklet A. Welcoming 1,000 people costs more money than it brings in, but it will always be that. taken for the atmosphere, after a US Open to cry on this plan.

“Having 1,000 people in the stadium rather than zero, it's still a real chance, and for viewers, having the public, admittedly in very small portions, it's not the same spectacle as a total closed door.

We could see it between the US Open and the final in Rome.

There was a real difference in terms of rendering.

It convinced us ”.

Ah, and the 750 lucky guys every day will really be the kings of oil, since they can sit in the first ring of the Central, very close to the players.

For the others, we will have to be strong.

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