ASVEL Basket, is a professional basketball team located in the city of Villeurbanne, which forms part of the Lyon metropolitan area. The club competes in France’s highest level of basketball, the Pro A League. Currently, the club’s home matches take place at L’Astroballe Arena, which can seat 5,556 people.
In 2014, Tony Parker (ranked the best French basketballer in history by the NBA) was appointed the club’s president. Since 2017, Nicolas Batum has been the ASVEL’’s director of basketball operations.
Major news was announced in June 2019; in a deal worth around €3.7 million, local professional football club Olympique Lyonnais purchased a 25% stake in the ASVEL men’s team, and additionally a 10% stake in the ASVEL women’s team.
The agreement also included plans to construct a new Euroleague-standard basketball arena.
History
ASVEL is an acronym which combines the names of the two former clubs which were combined to create the present day team; Association Sportive Villeurbanne and Éveil Lyonnais. The club’s achievements include 18 French Pro A League championships, 8 French Cups, two French Supercups, one French Federation Cup, and one Semaine des As Cup. It is currently the most successful basketball club in France.
Colours
In 2018 ASVEL changed its main team colours from their original white and green to white and black. The main club logo was also redesigned at this time.
ASVEL Ladies
ASVEL féminin competes in the premier division of the French Championship. The team was most recently crowned champions of France in 2019. Home matches are played at Gymnase Mado Bonnet which is located at 20 Avenue Paul Santy, 69008 Lyon. Prices range from €5 to €20 and tickets can be purchased here.
Arena
ASVEL’s current home is Astroballe, on Avenue Marcel Cerdan in Villeurbanne. Following investment by Olympique Lyonnais in 2016 however, plans were unveiled to construct a new multi-functional arena, with a seating capacity of 10,500. The budget for the project is €60 million euros.
Schedule
Dates and times of upcoming fixtures can be viewed here.
Tickets
Tickets can be bought online from ASVEL’s own website; https://ldlcasvel.com/billetterie/ .
Prices
There are two pricing schemes depending on the status of the match. For a “Match Gala” full price tickets range from €20 (student / reduced rate of €17) to €150. For a “Match Classique” full price tickets range from €15 (student / reduced rate of €12) to €80.
Transport
If travelling by metro, the Astroballe Arena is located some seven minutes’ walk from the Laurent Bonnevay metro station (Metro line A).
Address
“L’Astroballe”, 44 Avenue Marcel Cerdan 69100 Villeurbanne.
