Sports spectacular set to deliver £3m city boost
A NEW event which brings together the European Championships of six sports in Glasgow is expected to be attended by 250,000 people.
And according to a new report, total ticket sales are likely to be at least £3million.
On Thursday, the city council is expected to appoint Ticketmaster as the lead ticket agent for the Glasgow 2018 European Championships.
The contract will deliver up to 85% of the total ticket sales with an estimated sales value of £2.9m and other companies selling the remaining 15% of briefs.
Glasgow, in partnership with Berlin, is hosting the new multisport event between August 1 and 12 next year.
The European Championships will combine the existing European championships of athletics, aquatics, cycling, gymnastics and triathlon and a new European golf championship.
All the sports, except the athletics which will be in Berlin, will be staged in Glasgow and other parts of Scotland and there will be a number of free events such as the road race.
If Ticketmaster is appointed, it will be expected to deliver a compete ticketing service including, receiving and filling orders, operating a telephone and retail outlet, internet sales, equipment and staff. The ticketing agents costs will be recovered through the booking fee.
Ticketmaster has said it will take on four new employees and contribute £5000 to support community initiatives in the city which could be in the form of subsiding tickets for school children or free tickets.
Tickets will go on sale this summer with Glasgow 2018 committed to ensuring prices are affordable to all.
A spokesman for the European Championships, which will be staged every four years, said: “We can confirm Ticketmaster has been named as the preferred bidder for lead ticket agent service following a competitive tendering process.
“Glasgow 2018 will be a new highlight on the global sporting calendar building on the undoubted success of Scotland’s international events programme in recent years.
“We are looking forward to welcoming some of the world’s top athletes to venues across Glasgow and Scotland for what will be a sensational summer of sport.”
More than 3000 athletes will visit Scotland to compete in the six events with a further 1500 competing in Berlin.
The event will build on Glasgow and Scotland’s track record of hosting major international events i ncluding the 2014 Commonwealth Games, 2014 Ryder Cup and the 2015 World Gymnastics Championships.