Closed since the start of confinement, Paris – La Défense Arena in Nanterre will be accessible to the public again in September. Its vice-president, Bathilde Lorenzetti, explains the challenges of this reopening.
Why is an upcoming reopening important?
BATHILDE LORENZETTI. We were the first to fall into this health crisis, as of March 7. Now we have to be able to spread our economic life. We have our own employees but also our event staff. Some do not benefit from the partial unemployment scheme. It is important that the performance halls resume their activity. We support our society but we now need financial income.
You hope that the State will first validate a gauge of 15,000 spectators …
15,000 would be a satisfactory resumption of activity for us to at least break even and to host rugby events, start sport again and then concerts, postponed from January 2021. Of course, our priority is not to endanger the population. The challenge is to welcome spectators safely.
Do you not fear a public disaffection?
We asked ourselves the question. When we postponed the concerts, we offered to reimburse the tickets to people who did not want to keep them. We had very very few requests. We also put on sale subscriptions, we sold more than last year at the same time. There is an appetite, a relief on the part of the spectators who want to come back home.
What does the Arena look like since confinement?
The Arena is a large ocean liner with significant operating costs. For cost reasons, we cut all the lights and the entire air system. The employees were initially teleworked, then we put more than 90% of the workforce into partial unemployment. The Arena was a black, empty and a little depressing ocean liner when we had great tours and the final phase of rugby scheduled. We presented a complete technical file for the reopening. By the end of the month, we will have answers.
