For an additional amount of 20 euros, spectators can attend the training of WTT Montpellier players. If the room is far from full at the start of the week, the organizers are expecting people in the coming days. Franck Saulnier, head of the training room, returned to this initiative at the microphone of RMC Sport.
What's new this year at the WTT in Montpellier are all these little chairs that have been installed at the back of the training room. What does this ultimately consist of?
This is the real novelty in this place which is reserved for players for warming up. It's a small place for spectators, we have allocated a place for them to come and watch the warm-ups, the training sessions, because all week long they obviously train when there is no official match. And it's a little extra that we offered them to see them evolve in a training situation, warming up before their match.
Is it because it was a public request last year? Is this something that is already done on the circuit?
So no, it wasn't a request from the public, but we still had a few people who told us that it would be nice to be able to watch the players train. But it wasn't a big request, it was mainly from technicians elsewhere that we had this request.
Then, we had a reflection at the end of last year's edition on the fact of saying that we could bring a little more to the room training. And we said to ourselves why not bring spectators in, watch, that could be very good. There is a story of business Also, we must not hide it. In the end, we asked the circuit if it was possible. They have already implemented it a little this year in Asia. And there you have it, we started with these ideas, saying to ourselves that it could be a little extra for the people who came to see the edition.
It's also a small budget because they pay the spectators. Is this an option we take?
Exactly, it's not obligatory. We really have a lot of fans there in Montpellier. And they're really, really into it. People want to see how players train. In addition, we are lucky to have a great field of players. We have the best players in the world here. So it’s always interesting to watch them evolve.
They have the right to choose that little extra. Not obligatory but it gives them a little extra. They will be happy to see that. It worked out well because in a very short time this place is going to be full anyway. I was sure it was going to work. At the start, there was a real reflection on the fact of what we do or what we do not do. But in the end, it was book's right away. 20 euros in addition to the purchase of a ticket to return to see the matches. That is to say, we are in the first days. Well, it's starting slowly. But we know that the more we enter the competition it is sold-out.
Is there a rule that you can't take photos or videos?
The WTT has required us to avoid taking photos and videos of players. Which is still quite complicated. But we'll try. For now, I want to say that it's pretty well done. People are pretty nice about it in that aspect. They understood that at the regulatory level, it was like that. So we don't have any overflow.
But I knew that in Asia it was still something quite incredible. There are real fans who are there to get the slightest autograph. The slightest photo. The slightest video. So there, we have to remember them. But here I want to say that for the moment things are going well. It's going relatively well. It's calm. People really pay attention to that.
What is the capacity?
We have 150-160 seats. And I think that starting tomorrow Thursday, we should really have a lot of people there. It will move a little more.
How do I know the training schedule?
There is a QR code system that we receive through the WTT. It is displayed at the entrance. When they enter this stand, they have a QR code if they want to scan. They can know the times exactly. But they don't have the opposition of the players. Because we don't know who they will train with, with whom sparring partner. But they have the times when the players are there.
Do the Lebruns necessarily train on the tables in front of spectators?
Since last night, we decided that tables from 9 to 12 were free for players. But there is still a kind of protocol that is put in place in the training room. The earlier they arrive, the more they start on the last tables, that is to say from 9 to 12. And they move up. We have two warm-upwhich we call warm-up 1 and warm-up 2. These are tables which are almost in the same configurations as that of the playing area. The closer their match arrives, the closer they get on these two tables, to already prepare for the match.
Did you go see the first spectators to get their feelings?
No not yet. I didn't do it. But I think I'll go when there are more people, to get a little impression. And then also for us, working on next year's edition, to see what we could possibly do for them in addition, if they liked it. I will do it when there is a little more density.
Does this require additional security?
Completely yes. It is a mandatory passage. So we have people assigned to security, it's really their job, they are employed by a security company, so be careful of overflow, because you still have to regulate.
We also put volunteers in place to try to monitor. Particularly what I said about the appearance of the photos, the video. We still have a fairly quiet audience. It remains quite calm. Even if there are people who are super happy to see the French players. They still remain quite disciplined. It's pretty good.
Will we see this option again in future editions?
Yes. I think we will continue to do it. We who even work on the organization of the French championships, we ask ourselves the question. Even if we have made good progress on the organization which will take place in Laval. This year in June. But these are things we think about. Because we always try to improve every year, to bring something new.
