Covid-19: “We are going to have real financial problems”, worries the boss of three Zénith who already has – franceinfo

“We are going to have real financial problems”, declared, Wednesday, December 29 on franceinfo, Daniel Colling, the president of the operating companies of the Zénith of Paris, Nantes and Toulouse, while the big concert halls are confronted for at least three weeks with a gauge of 2000 spectators maximum sitting down.

“There is a great disappointment of the public, a great disappointment of the artists, but for us, the exhibitors, it is more than a disappointment, we are worried”, he explained, adding that discussions were underway to decide on the cancellation or postponement of certain shows in January. He reassured the spectators, who will be “reimbursed of course”.

Daniel Colling recalled that these large venues already had “closed for 18 months”. “We have state aid but we have been forced to take out loans and if the future does not allow us to open our rooms, we will have no more money to repay”, he detailed.

Like other professionals, he calls for new state support. Aid has been announced by the Prime Minister, but he “waits to know the details on the type of aid and the amount”. According to him, these aids are essential, especially since “the recovery was weak compared to the number of shows”.

Modulating room configurations to conform to the gauge is not a viable option. “You don’t rent a bus if you need a car”, he explained. The constraints linked to the epidemic are incompatible with the activity of these large rooms: “The government is trying to limit the proximity between people and groups, and that is exactly what we are looking for.”