SCABB thinks big: Betclic ELITE in three years, Europe by 2030

Meeting in front of nearly 800 people this Thursday, April 3rd at the Arena Saint-Étienne Metropole, SCABB (Saint-Chamond Andrézieux-Bouthéon Basket) unveiled the outline of its « Sacred Union » project. Led by President David Despinasse, this five-year development plan aims for promotion to Betclic ELITE within three years and European qualification by 2030. All this with an expanded territorial vision and professional structuring of the club.

Ce jeudi 03 avril 2025 à L’Arena Saint-Etienne Métropole, le Saint-Chamond Andrézieux-Bouthéon Basket (SCABB) a officiellement présenté son projet de développement pour les cinq prochaines années : 𝓛’𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓢𝓪𝓬𝓻𝓮́𝓮.

✍🏼Le communiqué officiel : https://t.co/Kx0UcumuCV pic.twitter.com/rO00Avq88O

— SCABB I Saint-Chamond Andrézieux-Bouthéon Basket (@scabbasket) April 3, 2025

A sporting project matching the ambitions

On the sporting front, SCABB is no longer hiding its intentions. With a targeted promotion to Betclic ELITE within three years and a budget that will increase from 4.5 to 7 or 8 million euros in the long term, the leaders want to quickly establish the club among the major players in French basketball. « We shouldn’t be afraid to say we want to move up, » states Fabrice Flotte, club general manager, in an interview with Ici.

Starting next season, the professional team’s payroll in Pro B will increase by 30%, and new technical structures will be established: a performance unit, a national and international recruitment cell, and the hiring of an individual coach. According to our information, Guillaume Quintard (who is highly sought after), having had a successful season leading SCABB Lab’s NM1 team (based in Andrézieux), could succeed Maxime Nelaton as head coach of the first team.

The National 1 team will become the flagship of the training center, creating a pathway to high-level basketball. The project also includes adding a U15 ELITE team, in partnership with La Pontoise club, a structure known for its senior teams playing in National 2 men’s (NM2) and National 3 women’s (NF3).

A SCABB Valley around the Arena

Beyond the courts, the club wants to structure a real development hub called SCABB Valley, around the Arena Saint-Étienne Metropole. The goal: to build by 2028 a 5,000 m² complex combining sports infrastructure, leisure space, and real estate projects.

A 1,000 m² headquarters, four basketball courts for training, a public gym, accommodation for young players, a medical center, and even a recreational basketball court similar to Hoops Factory are planned.

A 70-room hotel, a brewery/fan zone, and a seminar room will complete this complex, with the aim of making SCABB Valley a year-round living space, inspired by models like LOU Rugby in Lyon. The whole complex will generate rental income that will directly fund the club.

Largely private and local funding

In a sport where TV rights are almost non-existent, SCABB is betting on private partnerships to ensure its growth. Two national sponsors have already signed, and fifteen others are targeted. Improving hospitality offerings, optimizing ticket revenue, and commercial diversification are other levers being explored.

« In basketball, 85% of revenue comes from private sources, » reminds Fabrice Flotte. The club, which currently receives 500,000 euros in subsidies, wants to avoid becoming more dependent on them.

A Sacred Union… truly territorial

This major project is supported by the presidents of FFBB and LNB, Jean-Pierre Hunckler (originally from Saint-Étienne) and Philippe Ausseur, both present at the launch event. It also relies on strong territorial connections between Saint-Chamond, Andrézieux, and Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert.

The cooperation with La Pontoise for launching the U15 Elite illustrates this desire to structure a training center at the local level, where the future N1 coach will become technical advisor for all youth teams to ensure a common playing identity.