Umberto Gandini takes inspiration from the Nba
The words of Umberti Gandini
Lega Basket Serie A President Umberto Gandini pointed out to Tuttosport how in this edition of the Frecciarossa Final Eight the bar has been raised compared to last year's already record-breaking edition: “We have also added the Women's Italian Cup and at the moment exceeded the number of biglietti sold: +11% over the sameday in 2023. We will offer a top-notch product to give the audience an'opportunity of total entertainment. Not only the matches, but music, entertainment even after the matches and until midnight, each day dedicated to the history of the sport, activities for the gamesvanissimi, with three courts, two in the side foyer and a 3X3 court in the center where there will also be a match between influencers. And allto through a communicationne on all platforms and media. In short, thanks to the contributo of the institutions we offer product similar to the Nba experiences, which are total. We can in a unique facility in Italy. And I was also struck at the presentation at the Ogr by the harmony between the regional and municipal administrations with the contribution of the Turin Chamber of Commerce”.
This Frecciarossa Final Eight canò also be a model for the 16 clubsà of Serie A: “Clubs are taking a cue for their activities, but everyone should have a similar facility. Instead, in Italy the problem of facilities è is evident. Fortunately in basketball something is moving: I am thinking of the project that is being completed in Tortona, those being finalized in Venice and Bologna. The government is starting to think about the issue of facilities. Basketball è is growing especially in public. In the first round more than 11 percent, despite the fact that places like Trieste and Verona were relegated. Going back to the question, we are using the right language to interest even the youngest people. And basketball lends itself to capturing their attention span. In addition, the game even outside the NBA has moments of high spectacular level. An example of language are in-depth formats: I recommend Andrea Trinchieri’s Basketball&Conversations with Italian coaches”.
In this edition of the Frecciarossa Final Eight there’è the novelty of the Frecciarossa Final Four of the Women’s Series A1: “We think it is correct to offer a comprehensive view. Let’s celebrate basketball and maybe involve an even moreù diverse” audience.
In this edition, the common thread of the various evenings of the Frecciarossa Final Eight will be the history of Italian and Piedmontese basketball: “We want to tell the story of those who have allowed us to get here. Show it also to the younger ones through videos on the big screen and words. We will start with Dino Meneghin on Tuesday night. On Wednesday we will have Piedmontese basketball, on Thursday we will have the blue champions, and it will be the same for women. On Saturday we will bring Antonello Riva, who remains the best scorer in the league and the national team, unreachable even in the future. And on Sunday, party with the public for Meneghin, with coach Gamba and a special guest, who will receive the award for induction into the Italian Hall of Fame: Bob Morse”.
Italian basketball is growing considerably: “Last year è it was the fourth in Europe. We are growing. My idea è has always been: identify the target market and decide what to do to engage it. The goal when I arrived was to make basketball more relevant again. And the technical level also è raised, as no one accepts adverse fate without reason, even in the face of different budgets. Everyone studies his own way to live the dream, demonstrate Pistoia and Cremona arrived to play each other the eighth place at the’last round”.
