February window of European Qualifiers registers 80 percent average arena occupancy rate

MUNICH (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - The 32 games played during the February window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers registered an average occupancy rate of 80 percent.

Crowds flocked in their thousands to cheer on their respective countries during a window that further underscored the unique appeal of national team competition, delivered breath-taking performances and produced a number of eye-catching results.

The top five audiences of the European Qualifiers in the February window were:
1 Georgia - 9,000 (against Germany)
2 Spain - 8,573 (against Montenegro)
3 Sweden - 8,045 (against Turkey)
4 Russia - 7,457 (against Bosnia and Herzegovina)
5= Latvia (against Turkey) & Ukraine (against Sweden) - both 6,500

France and Italy, who both sold out their home games in the first window, repeated the feat in the second window and rewarded their fans by remaining unbeaten (4-0) and thereby ensuring they will advance to the Second Round.

Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Germany, Israel, Poland, Russia, Sweden and Ukraine registered their first sellouts of the Qualifiers.

The 8,045 spectators in attendance for Sweden's thrilling 59-58 win over Turkey set an attendance record for a senior men's national team game in the country. 

The 9,000 fans at Tbilisi's Sports Palace for Sunday's Georgia v Germany fixture witnessed a thrilling game that went down to the wire

More than 8,500 fans were present in Zaragoza to see Spain remain unbeaten by defeating Montenegro on Sunday and clinch their place in the Second Round

Sweden's fans gave a new meaning to the notion of 'homecourt advantage' as the more than 8,000 strong inspired their team to a crucial 59-58 victory over Turkey on Friday

After losing to France on Friday, Russia bounced back to claim a 70-53 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in front of a 7,000 spectators in Perm on Sunday

On Monday, Latvia and Ukraine rewarded the crowds of 6,500 fans that turned up at their respective games against Turkey and Sweden by coming away with wins 

France's fans in Strasbourg and Nancy got to celebrate on Friday and Sunday as the team went undefeated during the window

Amedeo Della Valle gave Italy's fans in Treviso something to cheer about with his 22-point performance helping the hosts to victory over Netherlands

More than 10,000 spectators at home games of Brazil, China and Philippines

The massive crowds registered during February's Qualifiers extended well beyond Europe.

In the Americas, Brazil played both games of the second window at home in Goiania and rewarded the combined 20,500 spectators on hand by beating Colombia 84-49 on Thursday and Chile 83-58 on Sunday to book the team's place into the Second Round.

Brazil fans in Goiania had reason to celebrate as the team won both games and some spectators were lucky enough to get up close and personal with star player Anderson Varejao

In Asia, China faced New Zealand on Friday in Dongguan with 10,000 spectators seeing star player Yi Jianlian make his debut in the Qualifiers and erupt for 37 points.

On Sunday, close to 10,500 packed Manila's Mall of Asia Arena to cheer on Philippines as they defeated Japan 89-84 and booked their ticket for the next phase of the Qualifiers.

  

Altogether, the total attendance of all 72 games played during the February window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers was in line with that of November, as more than 300,000 spectators once again took in the action right across the globe.

FIBA