The opening of VTB League season was a success–Brainstorm opened the show at VTB Arena, Zielona Gora almost came from behind after -16, and Khimki won in front of record-breaking number of fans.
VTB Arena has already hosted basketball. VTB League All-Star Game 2019 was sold out with 11 700 spectators. The game between Khimki and Zielona Gora attracted a bit less–5762, but it is the record for Moscow region team within all 10 years in the League. Here is the list of the highest attendance at Russian arenas in VTB League history.
Basket-hall, Krasnodar
Home team: Lokomotiv-Kuban
Record: 7500 spectators
It is no surprise to see Krasnodar Basket-hall in the top of the list. Loko has one of the largest attendance in VTB League history.
The record was set in a game against CSKA in playoff finals 2012-13. By that time, Krasnodar have won Eurocup and been qualified for Euroleague. Obviously, the first home game of VTB League Finals was sold out, even with 0-2 in the series. Loko pleased their fans–CSKA couldn’t reach 60 points, and Derrick Brown with Nick Calathes scored 33 and got a win for their team 69:58.
Krasnodar Basket-hall demonstrated attendance over 7 thousand in VTB League 7 times. It is the record among Russian teams.
UDS Molot, Perm
Home team: PARMA
Record: 7316
In 3 years with the League, PARMA haven’t reached the playoffs, but every year they had the best average attendance. And it makes sense with Perm basketball tradition inherited by PARMA from their predecessor.
CSKA is still the main rival in Perm. In April 2017, when army club came to Perm after a long break, Molot was overcrowded. With official capacity of 7 thousand, the game hosted 7 316 basketball fans!
It seems like CSKA office still remembers the loss in Perm in early 2000s. The team was motivated to destroy. PARMA suffered the worst loss in VTB League 55:116. Army club showed their second best offense in history (the first was 123 points at Nymburk in 2015). PARMA head coach Vyacheslav Shushakov had to apologize to fans after the game.
SIBUR Arena, Saint Petersburg
Home team: Zenit
Record: 7140
Zenit played its 2 first League season at SIBUR Arena, but then due to numerous reasons had to relocate to Yubileiny. Last season Zenit came back to Krestovsky island.
The story of the most popular game at SIBUR Arena is a lot like Perm’s Molot. Newborn Zenit sold out the game against CSKA–7140 fans. Vasiliy Karasev team could not hold back the army team of Dimitris Itoudis that had taken the lead of +16 by the halftime break. As a result, CSKA won 81:57.
Last year, Zenit took advantage of coming back to SIBUR Arena. The team demonstrated the best attendance within their 5 years in the League–3770, and were the second after PARMA in average attendance.
VTB Arena, Moscow
Home team: Khimki
Record: 5742
It is not really correct to say that Khimki are a home team at VTB Arena. The yellow-blues plan to play the season at BCMO. However, it was a good choice to open the season at this venue. The fans enjoyed both the pre-game show featuring Brainstorm, and the game itself.
It should be noted that Zielona Gora did not play a whipping boy. It was quite the opposite: the Polish team fought till the end and were close to come from behind of -16 against Khimki and their strengthened roster. Khimki lacked 4 players of the starting five, but Zielona Gora deserves a credit: 5742 fans could not confuse them. By the way, this is the best number for Khimki home games in VTB League within all 10 years.
To be precise, 5742 is not the record for VTB Arena. In February 2019, VTB League All-Star Game was sold out with 11 700 spectators. This season, the game will be played at VTB Arena again.
Basket-hall, Kazan
Home team: UNICS
Record: 6223
In the mid-2010s UNICS did not enjoy high attendance. Last years, however, Kazan public is more attracted to the club. In 2018-19 season, UNICS was the third most-attended team after PARMA and Zenit.
Club record was set in December 2017 with 6223 fans watching the game against CSKA. Jamar Smith showed almost 100% FG, but fouled out quickly. Trent Lockett and Stephan Lasme were not enough to get the win, CSKA won 88:75. By the way, it was a good regular season for UNICS, that game was the only loss.
Another number is 6500 spectators who came to support UNICS in the semifinal agains Khimki in home Final Four 2011. Kazan lost in a clutch 78:84. On the next day, Khimki took CSKA’s title of VTB League champions.
