NOT ‘EXPENSIVE’
JFF defends ticket pricing for US World Cup qualifier
GENERAL SECRETARY of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Dalton Wint, has defended his association’s decision to increase the ticket prices for this month’s World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium.
Wint told The Sunday Gleaner that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, t he federation has found it very difficult to generate sponsorship for the national team and therefore they had no alternative but to increase the ticket prices
For the November 16 World Cup match against the United States, it will cost $7,700 to enter the grandstand, a $1,200 increase from the last campaign in 2016. Patrons wishing to sit in the bleachers will now have to pay $2,000, which represents an $800 rise. Only 1,000 persons will be allowed in the grandstand and 4,000 in the bleachers.
“Based on what is happening and the expense to put on games at this time, I really don’t see it as too expensive,” said Wint.
“With these prices, we sat down and had a number of discussions and this is what we came up with and we are just asking the public to contribute this amount of money to the programme,” he said.
“I know they are longing to see some live football at the National Stadium and we are asking for a contribution of $2,000 for the bleachers and $7,700 for grandstand for them to cheer their beloved team and to give us all the support that we need to win this game against the US,” Wint added.
CHEAPEST IN THE REGION
He pointed out that these tickets are among the cheapest prices to attend World Cup qualifying matches in the region and remains confident that the public will turn out in their numbers to support the Reggae Boyz.
“We are confident that we will get the public to come out and support the game and as a matter of fact, we are one of the cheapest in the World Cup qualifying venues in the world and therefore we are expecting the full take-up of the 5,000 tickets,” said Wint.
“We definitely do need all the support that we can get because we are the only team without support so far and the Government has given their support in terms of allowing us 5,000 people inside the stadium,” he said.
“We are asking the public to take up that and don’t bother watch the money because you will be supporting the national team,” Wint said.
Only fully vaccinated persons over the age of 18 years old can apply to purchase tickets for the game. This will be done through The Ticket Fairy, an electronic ticket monitoring system.