The renaissance of the punta basket

How is it possible that a basket match can attract 1,200 people to Gernika on a Monday? The question flies over many times among the faithful to this sport who attend the Jai Alai of the foral town. In eight days there have been 11,541 those who have witnessed a match live, and the trend, as the tournament approaches its end, is that the numbers continue to grow.

The answer has several factors for analysis. The bet made in its day by the company Gernika Jai ​​Alai to try to revitalize this sport has permeated because it goes beyond the merely sporting. It has managed to keep the usual followers, aware that it was now or never for a modality that was in the UCI, but it has sown to attract a new audience that likes what it lives and repeats.

“Everything is designed to be a show. From the format of the competition, to the smallest detail so that the public that attends has a good time”, highlights the head of the promoter, Gaizka Muniategi. The stage surprises with its cozy design within its spaciousness, which envelops the viewer. “The music with which they are received, the explanations of the animator, the use of live material in the matches…”, he adds.

They even have the chance to taste dishes from different countries that once hosted this discipline every day. To this we must add that the fastest and most spectacular sport of baseball has also always included a certain plot and emotions. In fact, you don’t train, you rehearse, and all your life festivals have been called performances.

Affordable prices for any pocket help. Tickets cost 5 euros, and a bonus of 60 was even taken out for the entire championship -16 days- which had a great response and which already anticipated that the repercussion could be important because with it almost half of the capacity was ensured. “We have to generate social mass. It is not necessary to make the product profitable but to dedicate itself to the recruitment and loyalty. The resources must be obtained from elsewhere », he underlines.

Minors up to the age of 16 have free access and many belong to surrounding ball schools that have the chance to see their role models live. Another very important aspect to generate quarry. “And the puntists have already been told to be close to them.”

The showcase that televising the matches has meant has also made it possible to discover a sport that was unknown to many and has generated the temptation to experience a different environment. The schedule -7:30 p.m.- even invites you to get closer as a family, “because it does not end at ungodly hours and can easily fit into any plan,” says Muniategi.

Generational relief

The use of social networks has been another of the weapons that have worked with the generation of attractive content. Even the promoters themselves are surprised by the origin of the fans. «In Gernika and the surrounding regions there has always been a hobby that we had, but they come from Barakaldo, Getxo, Zarautz or Arrasate, where there has not been a puntista tradition. Even fans from the other side of the border who in winter do not have the possibility of witnessing this modality there. It has gone from a local sphere to a more global one and in many cases it is young people ».

The introduction of the new values ​​in the tournament to promote a generational change is also paying off. «For this this year the number of conferences was doubled. It was a risky bet to maintain the quality and the interest of the viewer, but they have tried to take the pressure off the kids and they are responding. There are wickers to continue giving a show ».

By Monday, the tickets that had been put on sale were almost sold out, but the organizers will open the pediment box because a last-minute call from Bidart requested 70 tickets. «They come with the kids from early morning to spend the day. They rehearse in the pediment in the morning, eat and then to the function ». Sow to reap.

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