Vendée Challans Basket
Vendée Challans Basket is a non-profit French basketball association founded in 1936 in Challans, Pays de la Loire, fielding NM1/Elite 2 senior teams and a full U7-U18 youth pyramid, sustained by 210+ business partners, gate receipts, and merchandise sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1936
- HeadquartersChallans, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Vendée Challans Basket does
Vendée Challans Basket (VCB) is a non-profit basketball association (Association Loi 1901) headquartered in Challans, in the Pays de la Loire region of France, founded in 1936 as Étoile Sportive du Basket Challandais. The club fields competitive senior teams in NM1 and NM2, and operates a comprehensive youth development pyramid spanning U7 through U18 in collaboration with its territorial cooperation structure, CTC Challans Riez Vie. In the 2025/2026 season, VCB won the NM1 Championship and earned promotion to Elite 2, returning to this level of French basketball for the first time in 36 years.
The club operates a community-led, event-driven model centered on home matches at the Salle Michel Vrignaud arena (1,500+ average attendance), supplemented by special events such as the Match des Légendes, Christmas Game, and Soirée des Légendes celebrating its 90th anniversary. Its commercial offering includes match tickets (sold through an online ticketing platform), an official online boutique selling collector jerseys (€50), official player drops (€50), and a tiered sponsorship and partnership programme served by 210+ local and regional business partners including Crédit Mutuel, Crédit Agricole Atlantique Vendée, HyperU Challans, Renault Challans, Petitgas, and Fromagerie Beillevaire.
Monetisation is diversified across four streams: (1) transaction-based ticket revenue and on-site sales; (2) recurring sponsorship and partnership revenue across institutional, major, and minor tiers; (3) one-time merchandise sales via boutique and online channels; and (4) charitable-linked player memorabilia sales contributing to causes such as Le Combat de Quentin and Le Combat de Lulu. The club maintains a multi-channel digital presence (33,155 combined followers across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn) and is supported by 19 salaried staff supplemented by an extensive volunteer base. Governance is led by President Jérôme Séjourné (in role since 2023) with Sébastien Lambert as Head Coach overseeing the first team.
Vendée Challans Basket firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vendée Challans Basket
- Legal name
- Vendée Challans Basket
- Website
- https://challans-basket.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1936
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Vendée Challans Basket is a non-profit French basketball association founded in 1936 in Challans, Pays de la Loire, fielding NM1/Elite 2 senior teams and a full U7-U18 youth pyramid, sustained by 210+ business partners, gate receipts, and merchandise sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vendée Challans Basket industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Basketball Club
- NAICS
- Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Individual-Sport Clubs & Teams (Cycling Teams, Athletics/Track Clubs, Swimming Clubs, etc.) (MPAKABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE), Youth & Amateur Sports Tournaments (MPAGAMAF)
Keywords
Where Vendée Challans Basket is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Challans
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Vendée Challans Basket business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket sales: Match attendance revenue with over 1,500 spectators per home game
- Sponsorship and partnerships: More than 210 partners support the club through various partnership tiers including institutional, major, and event-specific sponsors
- Merchandise sales: Official boutique selling collector jerseys at 50€ and other club merchandise
- Player memorabilia: Sale of official player drops (112x70cm) at 50€ each, with proceeds partially supporting charitable causes
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Collector jerseys and merchandise |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Player drop memorabilia |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Match tickets |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Vendée Challans Basket product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vendée Challans Basket operates a French professional men's basketball team competing in NM1, the second tier of French basketball. The club fields a full youth development pyramid with age-group teams from U7 through U17 and a dedicated Centre de Formation (training academy). It generates revenue through match ticketing, an official online boutique for team merchandise and collector items, and youth basketball training programs.
Product overview
Vendée Challans Basket is a basketball club competing in NM1 and NM2 leagues, with teams spanning from youth (U7 through U18) to senior levels. The club operates primarily as a sports organization rather than a technology product company. Its product offerings center on the official online boutique for merchandise sales (including jerseys and apparel), special commemorative items such as the 90th anniversary collector jersey and official player drops from the historic Elite 2 season, and live match streaming via LNB TV. The club also offers ticketing services and operates a performance center for youth player development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- NM1 Professional Men's Basketball Team
Companies that use Vendée Challans Basket
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Vendée Challans Basket technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Vendée Challans Basket partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Département de la VendéecoreInstitutional partner providing recognition and support for high-level sports initiatives. The club was honored at the Soirée du Sport Vendéen de Haut Niveau organized by the Department.
- HyperU ChallansmajorMajor partner of the club, providing visibility and retail partnership opportunities
- PetitgasmajorMajor partner supporting the club's match events and overall sponsorship
- Crédit MutuelmajorFinancial institution partner providing banking services and sponsorship visibility
- Crédit Agricole Atlantique VendéemajorAgricultural banking partner supporting regional sports development
- Renault ChallansmajorAutomotive partner sponsoring specific matches and providing vehicle support
- La Mie CâlinemajorTitle sponsor of La Mie Câline Basket GO national youth tournament, with club hosting finals in June 2026
- Le Combat de QuentinminorCharitable partnership supporting adolescent and young adult cancer care. Proceeds from player drop sales donated to this association
- Fromagerie BeillevaireminorLocal cheese producer sponsoring specific match events
- Vingt Mille LieuesminorCreative communication agency based in Nantes and Vendée providing branding and web development services. Site creator and communication partner
- CTC Challans Riez ViecoreCommunauté de Communes du Territoire collaboration for youth basketball development. Jointly honored at Soirée du Sport Vendéen de Haut Niveau
- Le Combat de LuluminorCharitable association for children, benefiting from game toy donations collected during home matches
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Vendée Challans Basket competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Chorale de Roanne Basket: Historic Pro B basketball club with a similar community-based, association-style governance model and a comparable small-city catchment. Comparable to VCB in scale and governance, but typically operates one tier higher in the French pyramid.
- Cholet Basket: Established Pro A/Pro B basketball club also based in the Pays de la Loire region (Cholet). Comparable as a basketball franchise operating in VCB's same territorial catchment but at a higher tier with a significantly larger budget and arena.
- Boulazac Basket Dordogne: Pro B basketball club in Dordogne with a community-based governance model and similar regional catchment profile. Comparable to VCB as a French semi-professional basketball club, typically one tier higher in the pyramid.
- BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque: Established Pro B basketball franchise in northern France with a stronger historical brand and larger arena. Comparable as a French professional basketball club but operates at a higher tier with greater commercial resources than VCB.
Direct peers
- Hyères-Toulon Var Basket: Basketball club from the Var department competing in NM1/Pro B, with a similar Mediterranean small-to-mid market structure. Direct comparable to Vendée Challans Basket at the Elite 2 / NM1 competitive interface.
- Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball: French basketball club competing in the Elite 2 / Pro B divisions with similar community-driven governance and mid-sized market profile. Direct sporting comparable now that Vendée Challans Basket has reached the Elite 2 level.
- Fos Provence Basket: Elite 2 / Pro B basketball club based in Fos-sur-Mer with a similar small-to-mid market structure and association-based governance. Direct competitive comparable at VCB's new sporting tier.
- Denain ASC: Basketball club competing in the NM1 / Pro B divisions with a comparable small-city catchment and community-driven model. Direct comparable to VCB in scale, governance and competitive level.
- Nantes Basket Hermine: Pays de la Loire-based professional/semi-professional basketball club competing in the French national pyramid, often at NM1 or Pro B level. Direct regional and competitive comparable to Vendée Challans Basket given shared territorial market and similar division history.
Regional players
- Angers Basket: Pays de la Loire-based basketball club operating at lower national tiers (NM2/NM3). Geographic and structural comparable to VCB but not a direct Elite 2 competitor, illustrating the regional basketball ecosystem in which VCB operates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Vendée Challans Basket social profiles
Digital presenceVendée Challans Basket financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vendée Challans Basket leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Vendée Challans Basket subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Vendée Challans Basket funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vendée Challans Basket M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vendée Challans Basket
What does Vendée Challans Basket do?
Vendée Challans Basket operates a French professional men's basketball team competing in NM1, the second tier of French basketball. The club fields a full youth development pyramid with age-group teams from U7 through U17 and a dedicated Centre de Formation (training academy). It generates revenue through match ticketing, an official online boutique for team merchandise and collector items, and youth basketball training programs.
Is Vendée Challans Basket a public or private company?
Vendée Challans Basket is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Vendée Challans Basket founded?
Vendée Challans Basket was founded in 1936. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Vendée Challans Basket based?
Vendée Challans Basket is headquartered in Challans, France, in the Europe region.
How does Vendée Challans Basket make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ticket sales are the primary driver. The others are sponsorship and partnerships, merchandise sales and player memorabilia.
Who are Vendée Challans Basket's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Chorale de Roanne Basket, Cholet Basket, Boulazac Basket Dordogne and BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque. Direct peers are Hyères-Toulon Var Basket, Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball, Fos Provence Basket, Denain ASC and Nantes Basket Hermine. Angers Basket is listed as a regional player.
Does Vendée Challans Basket have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vendée Challans Basket.
What industry is Vendée Challans Basket in?
Vendée Challans Basket's product category is Professional Basketball Club. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKABAD, Individual-Sport Clubs & Teams (Cycling Teams, Athletics/Track Clubs, Swimming Clubs, etc.), with a secondary code of MPAKACAE, Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations. Its NAICS code is 711211 and its SIC code is 7997.