Monaco to use their old arena for EuroLeague games / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: JDA Dijon Credit JDA Dijon

While all indications showed that AS Monaco would have to move to the Azur Arena of Antibes for their EuroLeague games, the French club obtained a special permit and will be able, at least temporarily, to use their old court Gaston-Medecin, for the games of the European elite competition.

The efforts made to renovate the installation last summer - at a cost of several million euros - to increase the capacity to 4,090 seats and renovate its lighting, floor, seating, VIP areas, in addition to intense lobbying this past week, ended up paying off for Monaco. According L'Equipe, the Roca Team will be allowed to use the Gaston-Medecin arena, located under the Louis-II football stadium.

The second part of the season will be subject to a reassessment by the EuroLeague after the initial test period, the duration of which should be communicated on Thursday.

Monaco had initially been asked by the EuroLeague to play their home matches in Antibes, at the Azur Arena, a venue more in line with the specifications of the competition and the minimum capacity of 5,000 seats. But a final meeting of EuroLeague Commercial Assets on Wednesday afternoon finally won the case for the French club.

Monaco, the 2018 and 2019 French League finalists, who qualified for the EuroLeague by winning the EuroCup, were a major player on the free-agent market, concluding off-season spending with the arrivals of Mike James and Donatas Motiejunas.

AS Monaco start their inaugural season on September 30 by hosting Panathinaikos OPAP Athens.

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