National Cup finals mobilise 45,000 fans across four European countries!

This past weekend was a real demonstration of the strength, depth, quality, and unique ability of European Volleyball to engage with and entertain thousands of fans. Some 45,000 people attended the final matches of the national cups organised in Belgium, Poland, Germany, and Italy!

More than 10,000 fans witnessed the victories of Knack ROESELARE and Asterix Avo BEVEREN in the Belgian men’s and women’s Cup finals at the iconic Sportpaleis in Antwerp. Such a large, passionate, and knowledgeable crowd represents an indication of what to expect later this year when Belgium – and more specifically Gent and Brussels – will be hosting the final stage of CEV EuroVolley 2023 Women!

We all know that Poland is a Volleyball-mad nation and another confirmation of that came on Sunday when a crowd of 15,300 came together at the majestic Tauron Arena in Krakow – where two-time CEV Champions League Volley winners Grupa Azoty Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE added another trophy to their list of honours by taking the National Cup in a 3-0 victory over their arch-rivals of JASTRZEBSKI Wegiel.  

As many as 9,175 fans attended the German Cup Finals at the SAP Arena in Mannheim, with CEV President Aleksandar Boričić awarding the winners of the women’s competition – SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN – before the BERLIN Recycling Volleys triumphed in the men’s final in an ambiance that electrified all those attending on the ground as well as those watching the event from afar.

Another Volleyball ‘temple’, the Palazzetto dello Sport in Rome, provided the ideal stage for the last stage of the Italian men’s Cup Finals – where Gas Sales Bluenergy PIACENZA sensationally beat pre-favourites TRENTINO Itas before a crowd of 10,000 including Italian President Sergio Mattarella. The head of state has been a fan of the game for many years – attending, among other things, also the women’s cup finals in January 2021 and the opening match of the 2018 Men’s World Championship – and he awarded himself the winners of the competition after receiving a spontaneous standing ovation from the audience.

With these terrific numbers and the amazing experience delivered by the respective organisers, there is no doubt that European Volleyball continues to go from strength to strength – and there is a lot more to expect with highlights such as the CEV Champions League Volley Super Finals and CEV EuroVolley 2023 due to mobilise thousands and thousands of fans across the continent in the months ahead!