During this holiday season, the crisis hits the “BHV”. As much as the French professional basketball, handball and volleyball clubs had managed to withstand the shock of the first confinement, they are going through a more perilous end of the year.
In March, the first measure had precipitated the closing of the previous season and allowed the partial unemployment of athletes. This winter, unlike the amateur sector, professional clubs are continuing their current championships. But with the obligation to play behind closed doors, first due to the re-containment at the end of October, then the restrictions accompanying the curfew, mid-December, until further notice. At least, when the matches are played: since the start of September, the Covid-19 has resulted in the postponement of nearly a quarter of the first division matches for the Women’s Handball League (14 out of 63), forced to adopt , on December 21, a new competition format, more restricted.
Dependent on partnerships (especially for basketball and handball) and on subsidies (especially for volleyball), the “BHV” clubs now play without an audience on site. And therefore without much of their usual resources. Normally, between top-of-the-range boxes, entertainment and simple ticketing, game night receipts constitute “Nearly two thirds” of their budget, according to the press release of the professional leagues, made public on November 16 to shoot “ the alarm bell ”.
Anguish behind closed doors
If, this time, all these sports wanted “Speak with one voice”, according to the president of the Women’s Handball League, Nodjialem Myaro, it is also that they share the same fear. Their clubs fear reimbursement requests for the current season, from sponsors or supporters, in proportion to the number of games canceled or held behind closed doors. Even defections for the following seasons. Of “Induced damage” longer term, summarizes the president of the National Association of Professional Sports Leagues, Patrick Wolff.
The anxiety behind closed doors can also be explained by the inexistence – or the weakness, in the case of men’s handball, broadcast on BeINSports – of television receipts, in contrast with the amounts of football, even rugby. Conversely, for basketball and volleyball, as for women’s handball, production costs must even be paid for the French championship to appear on television. This applies to the cameras of the L’Equipe channel, or to those of Sport in France, the channel of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee.
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