While they are delighted with the turnover recorded on match nights, professionals believe that the impact would have been even greater if the competition had taken place in the summer.
Match after match, the French football team has climbed to the final of the 2022 World Cup. To the delight of the French people but also of the managers of bars and restaurants, who rub their hands at each goal of the Blues, synonymous with drinks consumed to celebrate the good news. “Our turnover was multiplied by two, Wednesday evening, for the match against the Moroccan team“, rejoices the manager of the Laterasse bar, in the 5th district of Paris.
Because the professionals have seen an increase in attendance which has gone crescendo with the successive victories of the Blues. “At the start of the competition, it was quite calm in the establishments. From the 8th final, the enthusiasm began to rise. Since then, more and more bars have organized themselves to install large screens and also benefit from the impact of the event.says Laurent Lutse, president of UMIH Cafés, Brasseries, Night Establishments.
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These more difficult beginnings can be explained in particular by a boycott of the World Cup by certain French people for ethical or ideological reasons, but also by the schedule of certain matches. “With matches broadcast at the end of the afternoon on weekdays, it was quite difficult to mobilize the French“, recognizes Romain Vidal, secretary general of the National Group of Independents for the Hotel & Restaurant branch (GNI), in Île-de-France. France’s match against Tunisia notably took place on a Wednesday at 4 p.m. French time.
“Our turnover has broken records”
But since France’s victory over Poland in the round of 16, the French have increasingly turned to bars and restaurants to follow the matches. The increase in turnover for an establishment, on a broadcast evening, is even estimated at 30% by Laurent Lutse. An assessment shared by Marcel Bénézet, president of the cafes, bars and brasseries branch of the GNI: “Attendance and therefore turnover can even increase by 50% over an evening“, he underlines. The manager of Dam’s Pub, in Lyon, smiles at the enthusiasm aroused by the victories of the Blues: “Our turnover broke records at the time of the quarter-finals“claims the professional.
Despite these good results, tricolor supporters could have been even more numerous in bars and restaurants if the World Cup had taken place, as usual, in the summer. “Without the use of their terrace because of the cold, many establishments do not have the same reception capacity that they could have reached in summer», Recognizes Laurent Lutse. With temperatures below normal for the season this week, it is indeed difficult for spectators to watch the matches from the terraces of cafes. “My space is limited inside, I can accommodate a maximum of 70 people. 4 years ago, for the 2018 World Cup, I received around 400 people on my terrace. It has nothing to do with this year, the impact is quite limited on my turnover», Regrets the manager of the bar Le Cascabel in Nantes.
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In parallel with the freezing weather cooling the ardor of football fanatics, the French also seem less festive in winter time, note the professionals. “Games are often shown in the late afternoon and the celebrations end soon after, whereas during the summer it would have lasted well into the night.“says Marcel Bénézet of the GNI. Still, the cafes and restaurants will be ready to welcome the fervor of the supporters of the Blues, this Sunday.