Pallacanestro Trieste President de Meo's interview with "il Piccolo"

Pallacanestro Trieste President de Meo takes stock with Trieste's leading daily newspaper “Il Piccolo”

Believe. Confidence in the work done, confirmation of the commitments made and the assurance that the project will continue even if unfortunately at the end of the season the salvation goal is not achieved. Trieste Basketball President Richard de Meo freewheeling between the present and planning for the future. With a jab at the City Council...

First three defeats that are missed opportunities, then a resounding victory over Virtus in the Euroleague, now an ugly defeat in Trento. How are you experiencing these team weeks from the U.S.?

We really don't like losing, especially games we thought we could win, but we know that good work and proper preparation are not always rewarded by results. We know we have the staff and the players we need to get the results we need this season.It is important to remember that our plans are not based on short-term results, but on a long-term strategic plan.

April is the month when we usually already set the work for the following season. Are you already moving forward? What are you working on among the many aspects (team, society, stadium)?

The goal is to secure a place in A1 as soon as possible. In parallel, our work continues on multiple elements, including sponsorships, marketing, changes to the arena, agreements in relation to merchandising. More generally, we are working on what is called "biz ops," the projects that include marketing, product, engineering that can have a big impact in the business.

For almost two months now, one of your trusted people (the brother of partner Prab Sekhon) has been in Trieste getting to know the city and the corporate organization. Compared to your first impressions and contacts, have any new insights or problems emerged?

We are very happy to have had someone from Csg (Cotogna Sports Group ed.) in Trieste, and like all of us, Ajeet immediately fell in love with the city. The task he is doing is to analyze and set up new processes, which will allow us to innovate. There are already some innovative aspects-for example, with regard to social media, or the marketing we have started with university students-but the impact of the change will be visible from next season.

There was also talk of contacts with the NBA in a summer context with possible performances and technical exchanges with Trieste coaches invited to the US. Will something happen as early as next summer?

Nothing specific to announce yet, but I can say that we are working on this issue, and we plan to start this summer. News will follow.

Compared to your expectations, what is Trieste giving you, as an audience response but also as a business?

The public continues to give us a lot. We count on the fans to generate the passion and pride that is needed to animate the players and all the staff of the club. We invite fans to express their support by attending all games-our hope is to return to a full Dome as soon as possible. In our efforts there is also a desire to enrich the fan experience, and we have some interesting announcements in store. It was nice and interesting to have Matteo Metullio and Davide de Pra as hosts in our VIP area during the match against Virtus. We also have an important news on the social media theme that we will announce soon. On the sponsorship front, next to the international activities that we have assigned to a London-based agency, Fuse, we want to have partners from the local area next to us.

Will there be modernization work on the Allianz Dome during the summer?

The issue of the arena is very delicate: we have substantial projects and development plans, but they are tied to the relationship with the City of Trieste, from which we have asked for an extension of the concession to make the investments sustainable. We will be able to leave only when this aspect is defined; unfortunately, it has now been five months since our arrival, but we have not yet seen consistent progress. We have been promised support from the institutions: we await concrete progress in the ongoing discussions.

Is your commitment confirmed even in the worst case scenario, a relegation at the end of the season?

Absolutely. We are working to build a more exciting future whatever the scenario. We are responding in this way: in the headquarters, in all offices, we have posted signs: it says "Believe": let's believe. Together.

READ THE INTERVIEW ON THE NEWSPAPER'S WEBSITE

source: “Il Piccolo”

author: Roberto Degrassi