France thinks ahead
Bullfight at Orthez
In stark contrast to Spain, where the mundillo as a whole has still to get together to reconsider the corrida’s future in the light of the coronavirus epidemic and the subsequent lack of activity and economic crisis, France’s taurine cities have put their heads together to determine how best to safeguard the future of bullfighting in their country.
They’ve unanimously backed four proposals which they “invite” bullfight organisers, toreros and ganaderos to take forward to ensure a better financial balance to events is realised.
These are:
Adjust costs to the realities of the market by taking account of the law of demand as well as that of supply.
At 1st and 2nd class rings, include an outcomes clause in contractual arrangements to reflect the spectator numbers actually achieved.
Apply a 25% reduction in fees for events in 3rd class plazas.
Ensure the future of novilladas with and without picadors by - whatever the category of plaza - applying the 3rd class 25% reduced fee.
The Union of French Taurine Cities regards the current situation as one of the gravest bullfighting has faced and says that toreros, ganaderos and empresas must now “act together with a sense of responsibility”.
The Union has made moves in the past to improve the economics of the Fiesta, their proposals serving as a basis for subsequent negotiations with bullfight protagonists.
These latest proposals are clearly designed to preserve the spectacle in minor rings and to ensure novilladas - so vital for the Fiesta’s future wellbeing - continue to take place. Economic pressure will be applied largely on the highest-earning toreros. France, of course, is in the fortunate position of placing the corrida’s emphasis firmly on the toro bravo; the status of the matador facing the bull is less important here than in Spain, where the corrida is more commercialised.