“We have come out of the dark period of Covid”… In Bordeaux, the Arkéa Arena breaks attendance records

Ppresented to the council of Bordeaux Métropole, the 2023 annual report from Senso, the Lagardère group company concessionary of the Arkéa Arena in Floirac, had enough to bring a smile to the faces of elected officials affected by the uncertainty hovering over the management of the stadium Matmut Atlantic. The figures say it all: in 2023, the Arkéa Arena hosted 102 public events for 497,653 spectators, an increase of 7.5% compared to 2022. Its turnover reached 32.09 million euros. , up 14% compared to the previous year, for a positive net result amounting to 1.87 million euros.

“Yes, in 2023, we have clearly emerged from the dark period of Covid,” testifies David Moison, director of the largest performance hall in the Bordeaux metropolis. “In January 2022, we were still subject to gauge restrictions. So obviously, when you go for a full year of operation like in 2023, that changes a lot of things… That said, overall, in Bordeaux, the public has returned to the theaters, not just here. And this will be confirmed in 2024: it is still too early to have the definitive photograph of this year but we welcomed even more people in 2024 than in 2023. This is a good criterion for judging the state of form of a room like ours. »

Cirque du Soleil

Opened in 2018, the Arkéa Arena is firmly positioned on the agenda for national and international productions. The infrastructure located on the right bank of Bordeaux, at the outlet of the new Simone-Veil bridge, claims its place in the top 3 large performance halls in France, outside the Paris region.

“We are recognized on a European and even global scale,” insists David Moison. “Just take the example of Cirque du Soleil which we have received on several occasions: the production has high demands in terms of audience reception or technical capacity. Cirque du Soleil involves 20 to 30 trucks of equipment arriving, not all the large theaters in France have the potential to accommodate such a machine. In its offices in Canada, Cirque du Soleil production archives theaters around the world: the higher you are in their ranking, the more likely you are to welcome them. We happen to be ranked very highly. » Building on this notoriety, the Arkéa Arena will confirm its potential in 2025 with the programming of international artists who only perform a few dates in France: three for the Pixies, three for the violinist André Rieu, six for Lenny Kravitz. Including Bordeaux…

And people come from everywhere to attend an event in the Floirac venue: in 2023, 74% of the audience at the Arkéa Arena resided in Gironde and a quarter of the audience came from other departments. In 2024, the share of the Gironde public will decrease further. “It’s the Enfoirés effect: their seven concerts at the Arkéa Arena will represent 10% of our annual attendance. And we travel from all over France to attend a Les Enfoirés concert. » Excellent news for the local economy since live entertainment has become an important element of the stay offer in Bordeaux. “When you come from far away, you book your room in a hotel here, you go to eat at a restaurant in town, you treat yourself to a visit to the Cité du vin, etc. Our activities allow the region to generate income in sectors other than ours,” says David Moison.

And now eSports

Clear horizon for the Arkéa Arena? One might believe it from a raw reading of the figures. But David Moison defends himself against a possible relaxation. “Nothing is ever won, the public is, ultimately, our justice of the peace. We start from the principle that there must be an offer for all audiences. » Hence the choice of diversification for a room which has the advantage of being modular (from 2,000 to 11,000 spectators). “We do opera because it works, because we offer attractive prices for an audience who perhaps does not dare to go to the theaters. » The Arkéa Arena has also tried sporting events, MMA or padel (even if the Bordeaux Premier Padel has decided to move to Mériadeck in 2025). “For sport, it is more complicated to carry out from an economic point of view because we have to mobilize our equipment over several days,” puts David Moison into perspective, who has set himself a new challenge: hosting a major sports competition. eSports at the Arkéa Arena.

Prolongation

The two-year extension of the Arkéa Arena concession by the company Senso, due to the impact of the health crisis, has been validated by Bordeaux Métropole. The contract now runs until June 2036. “We have excellent relations with Bordeaux Métropole, fluid, pleasant,” assures David Moison, whose team is made up of 21 permanent staff. “It's really positive because it allows us to achieve our objectives with peace of mind and demonstrate that our equipment meets the needs of the region, without costing the taxpayer. »