G2 Strategic (G2) and SPSM announced today that they have entered into an agreement for G2 to provide advisory services pertaining to the potential development of a new state-of-the-art, multi-purpose arena in the Rhône-Alpes region of southern France. SPSM is a subsidiary of Groupe Gones & Sports, which also owns Asvel Basket (ASVEL), historically the most famous basketball club in France, which has won 17 French Championships and 8 French Cups since its founding in 1948.
San Antonio Spurs’ star Tony Parker acquired a minority interest in ASVEL two years ago, and serves as the club’s Vice-President, Basketball Operations and is expected to assume the club’s presidency after he retires from the NBA.
G2 Strategic provides business advisory services to several European clients, including Euroleague Basketball, the elite pan-European professional league, the French Tennis Federation, the ATP and several European tennis tournaments. G2 recently teamed with Gensler Architects and world-renown French architect Christian de Portzamparc to compete in a design competition for a new stadium near Paris’ famed Roland-Garros; G2’s group was named one of four finalists after over 95 teams, from throughout the world, submitted proposals.
”After leading both major venue developments in Portland, Oregon and working in France for the last several years, I have always believed that European markets are a great opportunity to develop indoor venues,” said G2 CEO Marshall Glickman.
“With the opening of the O2 arenas in London and Berlin, we believe that new arenas will emerge in several other key markets, and the Rhône-Alpes regions is an ideal location, given the popularity of Asvel, ice hockey and the market’s strong demographics,” Glickman continued. “In France, the opportunity may be accelerated due to the recent release of Arena 2015, a report issued by the French Government’s Ministry of Sportwhich calls for the construction of several new indoor arenas and provides government funding to advance the projects.”
”We have been working with Marshall for several years,” said ASVEL chairman Gilles Moretton. “We have had amazing results since implementing Marshall’s recommendations on ticket sales, as our turnover has increased nearly 75% since we began working together. Now, we think it is time for the Rhône-Alpes region to have a world-class, multi-purpose venue that is on par with the best arenas in Europe, and we are confident that Marshall will help us determine the best strategy to make it happen”
Antony Thiodet, General Director of SPSM, added, “We are looking forward to working with G2 on this ambitious project. In addition to his marketing and sales expertise, Marshall has spent a major part of his career developing venues, including development of public/private partnerships, design and financing. Marshall has shown a unique ability to adapt his American experiences to local cultures and customs, so we think he brings something special to the table.”
As key part of G2’s engagement will be to obtain an agreement with an international venue operating company to help strengthen the economic-viability of the project, as well as developing a comprehensive strategy to obtain contractually-obligated income from premium seating, naming rights and corporate partnerships.
G2 Strategic is a boutique advisory firm, specializing in sports business, venue development and marketing strategy. Other G2 Strategic clients in Europe have included Euroleague Basketball, the French Tennis Federation, CSKA Moscow, the ATP, the Madrid Masters, the Nottingham Open, the Hamburg Masters and the ARAG World Team Championships.
For more information contact:
Marshall Glickman
CEO
G2 Strategic
541.633.7088
marshall@g2strategic.net
www.g2strategic.net
Antony Thiodet
General Director
541)342-4842
SPSM
+33 04 72 14 17 14
a.thiodet@asvel.com
www.asvelbasket.com