By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
The first window of the FIBA EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers concluded with fans continuing to back their national teams in strong numbers, after also registering impressive attendances to open the qualifying campaign.
It was the turn of the 16 teams on the road from Gameday 1 to take to the court in front of their home fans, who packed the venues for Gameday 2 action on Sunday and Monday, with an average attendance of 4,600 and an occupancy rate of over 80 percent once again.
In the first two gamedays combined, 11 of the 32 games were sold out, putting the average attendance for the February window of the Qualifiers at over 5,000 with an occupancy rate of 81 percent.
Top 5 attendances in the FIBA EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers, Gameday 2:
1. 11,390 – SWE v TUR at the Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden
2. 8,661 – ESP v POL at the Pabellon Principe Felipe in Zaragoza, Spain
3. 7,099 – RUS v MKD at the Molot Sports Hall in Perm, Russia
4. 6,591 – LTU v CZE at the Siemens Arena in Vilnius, Lithuania
5. 5,257- SRB v GEO at the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, Serbia
Highlighting the trend of excellent turnout, a new all-time attendance record in Sweden was set as 11,390 fans packed into the Globe Arena in Sweden to make history and witness a memorable 87-80 victory over Turkey.
The visiting fans also came in full force to support their team, while FIBA Executive Director Europe Kamil Novak was in attendance as well.
Reigning FIBA Basketball World Cup champions Spain were back on home soil for the first time since their title triumph in China, but Poland pulled off the upset with an 80-69 success in front of nearly 9,000 fans in Zaragoza.
Over 7,000 supporters showed out to see Russia overcome North Macedonia for a 77-67 victory at the sold-out Molot Sports Hall in Perm, as the Russian national team celebrated their first victory of the Qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Lithuania inspired their passionate faithful with their comeback win against Czech Republic, enjoyed by over 6,500 fans in Vilnius, many of whom had traveled to Belgium for the road game on Gameday 1.
There were also capacity crowds in Tuzla and Almere Stad, although hosts Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands were on the wrong end of results. Greece came through for a 70-65 victory in Tuzla, while Croatia also picked up their second win in overcoming the Dutch 69-59.
The crowd at the Shlomo Group Arena in Tel-Aviv saw a look at the future with teen sensation Deni Avdija shining in an 87-63 victory for Israel against Romania with FIBA President Hamane Niang also in attendance.
Nearly 5,000 fans cheered on France to their first victory in La Roche-sur-Yon as they beat Montenegro 85-66, while Great Britain were spurred on to an upset over Germany with a near full house in Newcastle taking in their 81-73 triumph.
Source: FIBA