Virtus CEO Baraldi: 'With a 25% capacity, it makes no sense to start the championship' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Virtus Bologna Credit Virtus Bologna

"In this way, our sport dies." That's the cry of despair coming from the Basket City of Bologna at the news that next season, the maximum capacity of the facilities will be reduced to 25% due to the pandemic. Virtus Segafredo Bologna CEO Luca Baraldi, referring to the situation, leaves no room for misinterpretation:

"We will be very clear: If the share of 25% remains fixed, it makes no sense to start the championship. We come from the experience of the playoffs, where neither the court in Milan nor that in Bologna have turned into a hotbed, despite the presence of the fans, and this is due to the precautions. Now, as the situation should improve given the vaccination campaign, it is not clear why capacity should undergo such a drastic reduction", Baraldi said, according to Il Resto del Carlino.

Next Monday, an assembly of the League comprising 16 clubs will be held. League chairman Umberto Gandini is hoping that the allowed percentage will rise up to 50%. Both Virtus and Fortitudo Bologna will start their season at the PalaDozza and this means that the available seats will be between 1.350 and 1.400. It's a foregone conclusion that Virtus having won the championship, tickets would sell at least ten times as much, while their rivals were forced to close the season tickets campaign early because the maximum share of available seats has been reached. "Obviously, I'm sorry for the fans", Baraldi continues, "but here the problem is much more serious. Despite the abundant resources that come from television rights, football execs have clearly said that if the capacity will be at 50%, they will not be able to stand on their feet. We do not even have this kind of resource, so we have to rely on sponsorships and tickets sold. Last season went the way it went and to make another one with a 25% limitation means only one thing: to close.

From November we will be playing at the Segafredo Arena, and the costs are about the same, whether we have 10.000 or 2.500. From an economic point of view, it wouldn't be worth opening the facility; we'd rather play behind closed doors. You can't always trust the generosity of the owners. Basketball clubs are companies that have to be sustainable and have profits."

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