LNB boss fears clubs will disappear due to closed door

Indoor sports do not know if they will be able to continue their season behind closed doors.

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Basketball endangered by confinement.

The president of the National Basketball League (LNB), is worried about the consequences of the constraint of the closed door and considers that the orange ball is in danger in France.

"One could imagine that clubs could disappear", he warned in particular on Friday.

“For us, playing without an audience, without partners, without VIPs is playing without savings.

We are told today, you can play, so you have to play.

But behind closed doors, it's very, very complicated, ”explained Alain Béral ​​after a general assembly of the LNB.

"The economy of the clubs will be so impacted that if we accept this to the end, well we will disappear, to be completely clear," he added.

During the new period of confinement announced by President Emmanuel Macron until at least December 1, French professional sport is allowed to continue its activity, but only behind closed doors, a major problem for disciplines such as basketball, handball or volleyball, with very low or even non-existent TV rights and therefore income all coming directly or indirectly from the public.

Not the same guarantees as in spring

During the first period of confinement between March 17 and May 11, pro sport was completely at a standstill.

The mechanisms of partial unemployment, and access to the loan guaranteed by the State allowed the clubs to pass this first episode without too much damage.

On the other hand, “we do not have the same guarantees as in March, April, May and June, that there is aid on unemployment, social charges, which can compensate for a number of things.

Today this is not the case.

We are not sure of our activity, ”hammered the president of the League, who estimates that for an Elite club, the closed door amounts to a loss of 100,000 to 180,000 euros per game.

Decision Tuesday evening on the next meetings

“When a club agrees to play behind closed doors at home, it loses revenue, VIPs, sponsors if it is not broadcast.

In a model like the one we have developed, it is lethal.

One could imagine if we accepted that, that clubs could disappear very quickly, for cash flow problems or payment default, ”he insisted.

"Very soon", it could be in "less than a few months."

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The LNB postponed until Tuesday evening at the latest its decision on the holding of the next meetings until December 1, the 7th and 8th days scheduled for this weekend, then Monday and Tuesday having already been postponed.

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