Anderlecht normally does not play home matches on Saturday evenings. Yet RSCA – KV Mechelen is now scheduled for Saturday at 8:45 p.m. The Purple & White will honor icon Paul Van Himst with a brand new light show, after which more Saturday matches may follow in the future.
In the past, Anderlecht often played at home on Saturday evenings. However, this has decreased significantly since 2009 and has actually become a rarity since 2013. The municipality would rather not have that. The neighboring Westland Shopping shopping center is open until 8 p.m., making it difficult to get RSCA fans to park there. Certain fans also appear to be more excited on Saturday evenings than on Sunday afternoons, which sometimes causes the neighborhood to become alarmed. More police officers are then needed and that costs money.
Yet Anderlecht requested an exception for this Saturday. The club installed a new light installation with LED lighting in the Lotto Park and wants to create atmosphere with a real light show with which it literally wants to put Paul Van Himst, who turned 80 years old, in the spotlight. Since the sun only sets at 7:15 PM and darkness is required, a Saturday night match was the best time. RSCA got the inspiration for such a light show last season during the European matches in West Ham and Villarreal.
The match against KV Mechelen is dedicated to the 80th birthday of the Anderlecht icon. — © BELGA
The fans are already enthusiastic. The Lotto Park is already sold out against Malinwa and many prefer Saturday evening matches instead of Sunday afternoon matches. For example, guests who still play football in the provincial series can also be present. The catering establishments around the stadium also prefer Saturday evening matches. The fans stick around longer afterwards and consume more because they can sleep in on Sunday morning.
Evaluation
If everything goes smoothly on Saturday – no parking chaos, no incidents – then the Brussels police will evaluate everything and the door may be opened for more Saturday evening matches in the Lotto Park. The last time Anderlecht played at home on Saturday evening was without an audience in the midst of corona.
