1.2 million people. This is the total number of spectators to have visited Betclic Elite halls this season, which represents a new record for the French championship. Each match attracted an average of 3,910 spectators, with SLUC Nancy even breaking a club record with an average of 5,829 spectators.
These data are obviously incomparable with the attendance of NBA halls, whose capacity is much higher. On the other hand, the French arenas have nothing to envy their American counterparts in terms of filling, with an average rate of 87%. Again, this is a historic record for French professional basketball. The highest single-season rate so far was 83% in the 2017/18 season.
In his press release, the LNB reports that the clubs recorded 117 sold-out matches in the regular season (out of 306 matches, or more than one in three matches). These attendance levels are obviously tied to the Mets 92 and the “ french nugget » Victor Wembanyama which generated exceptional enthusiasm throughout the territory »: 25 games sold out out of 34.
To (re)read: Diving into the heart of “Wembamania” in France
The LNB also recorded a record for a single match: 16,319 people attended the match between Nanterre 92 and Asvel, played at Paris La Défense Arena last March. Proof that the enthusiasm for the championship has gone beyond the simple ” Victor Wembanyama effect “. The previous record for a meeting dates back to 2018 with more than 15,000 people already coming to see Nanterre.
The Mets 92 – Bourg Basket (14,397 spectators) and Paris Basketball – Asvel (11,277 spectators) meetings, relocated to the Accor Arena, complete the Top 3 of the best attendances for this regular season 2022/23.
