Six and Out - Some Serious Cricket

Price of the World Cup?

by SixandOut on March 30th, 2007

As a cricket fan so far away, it’s really hard to gauge what the real feeling is over this World Cup. There was always the danger of an increasingly waining interest from the International community considering that it has been spread out over such a long period of time. But a succession of events, starting with Pakistan’s early demise, the murder of Bob Woolmer, India’s exit and now the constant speculation over the pricing structure due to dwindling attendance figures. The man in charge has already defended the pricing structure, but it’s becoming increasingly hard to ignore the consternation at the lack of atmosphere.

The finger is being pointed at ridiculously inflated ticket prices and the decision to market the event to a foreign market which has not responded anywhere near as much as hoped has truly backfired.

You can’t argue with comments from people who are actually there:

I am English and live and work out in Antigua, but the writing was on the wall with regard to stadia crowds a long time ago. Most people here would have to work three days to earn enough for one seat ticket, then they will also lose the money from not working…that’s nearly a weeks pay to see one game once they have eaten and drank. What on earth were people kidding themselves about? The Stanford 20/20 cup last year was packed with games in the evening and entry free or at a level people could afford. The ICC has got it wrong, if you want cricket to be taken up by more people in the countries the competition is played in then let them join in….don’t build stadia that no-one can afford to go to.

(Paul)

Says Harvey:

Unfortunately for the organisers, the expected English supporters were never going to materialise in the numbers they expected, due partly to the counter-attraction of the Ashes (most couldn’t afford the time or money for both tours), and partly due to lingering bitterness over the WICB’s ticket rip-off of English fans in 2004.

Valid point. Especially when combined with:

Meanwhile, hoteliers and airlines believed the organisers’ hype about the numbers expected, and thought they could charge what they liked, too. The result was that most overseas supporters will have taken one look at the prices being mooted, and immediately taken the decision not to go.

Absolutely! I couldn’t get to Australia for the Ashes so had firm plans of going to the West Indies for at least some of the World Cup. But when doing the sums, it was always going to be totally inaffordable. I looked at packages for the week that England will be in Grenada. The difference in price for that week, compared with the weeks either side was in the region of £500 - no difference in package, just simply that the Super 8 will be there. I understand “supply and demand”, but judging by the attendances, there simply hasn’t been the demand that everyone expected. The question is “why hasn’t there been the demand?” and most people are pointing the finger at the over-inflated prices.

Considering that this World Cup is likely to be the last time we see Glenn McGrath, Brian Lara and possibly Sachin Tendulkar in one day cricket, the match-fixing rumours, the Bob Woolmer murder and the problems with attendances, it’s certain that whichever team actually wins this tournament won’t do so with the pride that should be attached to winning the biggest trophy in your sport.

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