Paris FC offered fans a unique way to watch their decisive match for promotion to France's top soccer league, Ligue 1. The club invited supporters unable to attend the away game to gather at a renowned Paris cinema.
The match against Martigues holds high stakes for Paris FC, currently second in the Ligue 2 standings. A victory guarantees their move up to Ligue 1 for the next season, potentially setting up a derby against Ligue 1 champion Paris Saint-Germain.
However, the game is being played in Martigues, located approximately 800 kilometers (500 miles) from Paris. Tickets for away fans were limited.
To ensure fans could still experience the match atmosphere together, Paris FC arranged a screening at the Grand Rex, a historic entertainment venue in central Paris known for its large main screen, which accommodates 2,700 seats.
The club announced the event on social media, inviting fans to the giant cinema screen to support the players in their penultimate match of the season.
The response from supporters was swift. Within two hours of the announcement, all available places for the viewing party at the Grand Rex were claimed.
The Grand Rex, located near the city's iconic République square, was recently recognized as the world's most beautiful cinema by a Time Out ranking. The venue originally opened in 1932.
Paris FC has demonstrated growing ambition following its purchase by the Arnault family, France's wealthiest family, known for leading the luxury empire LVMH.
The club's potential presence in Ligue 1 could provide Parisian soccer fans with a local city rivalry similar to those in other major European capitals and cities like Madrid, Rome, Barcelona, Milan, and Manchester.
