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This year, the German team Fortuna Düsseldorf gained attention for offering free admission to certain home games. However, they have now been surpassed by Paris FC from France. Starting in November, all of Paris FC’s league matches, including both the men’s and women’s teams, are free to attend until the end of the season.
When Pierre Ferracci, the club’s president, announced the initiative, he stated that it aimed to make football easier to access. Additionally, the initiative is also addressing an ongoing concern for the club – the low number of attendees at their home ground, Stade Charléty. The stadium, which can hold 20,000 people, is located in the southern part of the city by the main ring road and is part of a larger sports complex. The club has been using this stadium since 2007, and their men’s team typically only draws around 4,000 spectators per game.
Ferracci estimates that the initial losses would amount to approximately €1m (£860,000) during the campaign. He aims to mitigate this loss by securing new sponsors and boosting sales of food and beverages on game days.
The plan has attracted new backing for both the male and female teams. The impact was instant – 13,472 fans attended the men’s Ligue 2 match against Bordeaux in November, marking the team’s largest crowd since 2015.
However, Paris FC is striving to emerge from the overshadow of their neighboring superclub, with their own financial support from Bahrain. The women’s team and their recent achievements are leading the effort to attract new supporters. Despite only officially becoming part of Paris FC in 2017, after winning six league titles as Juvisy, the team has quickly become a significant and notable aspect of the club’s character.
The recent Women’s Champions League game against Real Madrid showed the potential success of the discounted ticket program. Despite not being eligible for the free-ticket program due to Uefa regulations, the reduced ticket prices still attracted 10,693 viewers, which was more than double the previous record.
The team delivered an impressive performance, scoring two goals from Julie Dufour and captain Gaëtane Thiney in the first six minutes. Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie saved a penalty from Olga Carmona, but the Spanish team managed to score one goal through Caroline Møller in the second half. However, Paris FC held their ground and earned their first points in the European campaign.
Thiney, who was named player of the match by Uefa, led a festive lap of honour around the stadium, thanking the fans for the impressive turnout. The veteran praised the record-breaking crowd’s “incredible energy”, telling Le Parisien: “It’s great to show a big club like Real Madrid that we, Paris FC, are able to draw in nearly 11,000 people for a women’s match. I think even the Real players were happy to play in front of that many people.”
Sandrine Soubeyrand, the manager, noted that her team was passionate about bringing spectators to the stadium. She also stated that they were not just focused on playing the game, but also contributing to the growth of women’s football. They are dedicated to this cause and consider hosting 10,000 people a success for the entire club.
The turnout for the derby against Paris Saint-Germain the following weekend was lower than expected. Factors such as the late 9pm Sunday time slot and freezing temperatures likely contributed to this, along with the fact that the PSG men’s team was also playing at the same time. Despite these challenges, the attendance was 4,002, which was a significant increase compared to the usual number for a major game. For the league game against Lyon in early November, only 2,400 fans showed up for a 6-1 loss, just before the implementation of the free ticket program.
The hosts had a quick beginning against their local rivals, with Thiney successfully scoring a penalty after four minutes. PSG responded with a penalty of their own by Sandy Baltimore, but Marie-Antoinette Katoto ultimately secured the winning goal just before halftime.
Although Nnadozie’s impressive performance in the second half helped her team stay in the game, Soubeyrand’s team was unable to equalize. Despite the outcome, Paris maintains their second place position, with a three point lead over PSG, while Lyon remains eight points ahead at the top of the standings.
I spoke with some of the fans at the derby and Christophe, a Lyon native who now resides in Paris, is a frequent attendee at Charléty. He praised Paris FC for their efforts in promoting women’s football and stated that he finds the team more approachable than their competitors. He mentioned that after every game, players like Gaëtane Thiney and Clara Matéo make a point to thank the fans.
The game also captured the attention of some newcomers – Sandie, who had only seen a few Paris FC matches on television, had never been to the stadium before. Despite the loss, she plans on returning, as she was impressed by the lively atmosphere and the excitement on the field. She does mention that the complimentary admission may not continue indefinitely: “It would be beneficial for fans to also contribute in some form.”
It is yet to be determined if the initiative will lead to continued growth in the long run, even beyond major games. Despite a consistent year-to-year rise, the number of attendees in the top division of French women’s football still falls significantly behind that of English and German leagues, with an average of only 841 per game last season. The goal is for Paris FC’s plan to potentially increase these numbers, at least in Paris. Opening the stadium doors to all will also help establish the club as a more modest option compared to the extravagant Parc des Princes.
Recommended viewing
After being away from the field for a year due to an injury on her anterior cruciate ligament, Marie-Antoinette Katoto of PSG has been facing challenges in maintaining her performance this season. However, her decisive goal in the recent derby match is a clear indication that the French national player is making progress towards her exceptional form.
Recommended listening
The most recent issue of Women’s Football Weekly features a discussion with Faye Carruthers, Sophie Downey, Anita Asante, and Chris Slegg about Tottenham’s victory in the north London derby and some standout moments from the season thus far.
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Source: theguardian.com
