Nicolas Dupeux, CEO of Paris Entertainment Company (PEC), the umbrella organization that operates three of the city’s most iconic buildings: Accor Arena, the infamous Bataclan, and Adidas Arena, currently under construction and scheduled to open in February 2024 – just in time for the Olympic Games in the French capital – stated that “we’re breaking records.”
Dupeux anticipates a 20% increase in ticket sales compared to 2019 and a revenue of around €50 million ($54 million) by the end of the fiscal year on August 31, 2022. In addition to his role in facilitating the strong comeback of life with the venues he manages, Dupeux and Pollstar discussed a few other hot subjects.
Priority number one is transforming the area surrounding the Accor Arena into a daylong entertainment zone. The offering consists of a new bar, restaurant, and coworking spaces for b2b professionals. A basketball playground was just inaugurated, and in July, Dupeux’s team will organize its first outdoor film screening.
In terms of nightlife, the upcoming launch of Phantom, the largest party venue in Paris with a capacity of 3,500 people, will allow the public to prolong their pleasure of the events in the Main Event Hall and will become the epicenter of Parisian parties. “Our district is now open 24 hours a day, even when there are no concerts or sporting events scheduled,” he added, adding that the expansion of the side offerings was a continuous process.
adidas Arena is the only facility being constructed from scratch within Paris for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. With Paris Basketball as the sports tenant and a capacity of 9,000, the objective is to organize more than 100 sporting, e-sports, and musical events each year.
It is the first global naming rights contract for Adidas, which, according to Dupeux, demonstrates the significance of urban culture and music in the positioning of large companies. Dupeux is sure that the arena will open in February 2019, as planned, despite the fact that supply networks are still recuperating from the consequences of COVID, including material costs and availability.
Similar to Accor Arena, the venue will cooperate with all international promoters, and because of its size, it will welcome more indie and local acts than PEC’s flagship can. Similarly to Accor Arena, the new facility will serve as the focal point of a larger entertainment zone on 3,500 square meters, comprising bars, restaurants, shopping, and more.
The Adidas Arena, with a capacity ranging from 3,000 to 9,000, will be an ideal complement to the Accor Arena, which can accommodate musicians that draw crowds of 8,000 to 20,000. Le Bataclan, the theatre that was targeted by terrorists on November 13, 2015, during an Eagles of Death Metal show, has been included in the PEC since 2021.
Dupeux stated, “It was crucial that we create a fresh narrative for the venue. To proceed confidently into the future while remembering the past. We intended to place Le Bataclan as the greatest rock venue in Paris since it symbolizes the ethos of rock: independence, daring, and impertinence.”
Dupeux, who adores Le Bataclan for its exquisite design and ambiance, stated that the structure has evolved. “The average age of our clientele is between 18 and 20.” During the attack, when they were 12 or 13, their parents hid the television footage from them. They are aware of what occurred, but they do not have the same mental imagery that you and I do.”
COVID has made it very evident, according to Dupeux, that “people need to attend live music events. Not by digital means, but via actual interaction between artists and the audience. They must feel something; they must engage their many senses. There is no substitute for the living thing. They desire to experience the environment, watch their favorite performers, and smell the venue’s vitality. That is of the utmost importance.”
According to Dupeux, Paris Entertainment Company symbolizes a new live entertainment business model for Paris: one firm operating a collection of different-sized buildings devoted to the greatest in sports and entertainment in one of the world’s most culturally active cities.
Among the planned musical highlights at Accor Arena are Elton John, Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters, Madonna, Robbie Williams, and others, as well as a series of French celebrities such as Jenifer, Lomepal, and M. The proportion of international to domestic acts at Accor is around 70/30.
PEC focuses on the b2b market, transforming partnerships and VIP offers into a venue for experiences, in addition to delivering the world’s top musicians to their French fan base. The team has now unveiled a new b2b suite designed in the manner of a classic Parisian apartment, complete with a fireplace and couch, and a panoramic view of the Main Stage. Dupeux said, “whether it’s b2c or b2b, whether it’s artists, fans, or promoters, the experience is at the center of what we do.”