The Local Organising Committee has announced that the tickets for the 2023 Netball World Cup have been sold out.
The ongoing Netball World Cup at Cape Town’s International Convention Centre saw a full capacity crown on the opening of the competition, this trend continued throughout the weekend. Matches that were involving South Africa in the first preliminary stages were sold out before the competition began.
There has, however, been a concern with empty seats especially since the second round of the competition began on Monday.
LOC chairperson Patience Shikwambana together with the Tournament Director, Priscilla Masisi, and Department of Sports Deputy Minister, Nocawe addressed the media with the state of the affairs of the tournament as it approaches the business end.
“There have been some issues with ticketing, but I can indicate that we have done our best to make sure that this thing doesn’t become a serious matter. We have improved from day one and I think things are going well,” says Shikwambana.
Masisi reckons the fixtures of the second preliminary round have influenced the selling of the tickets.
The LOC together with its partners and sponsors of the competition have decided they will give away some tickets to the tune of 1 000 in order to fill the seats on matches that have not received much support.
“Our ticket sales are down but we have seen other games, starting from tomorrow (are) picking up. The tickets for the semifinals and finals are almost sold out. The final is sold out and the two semifinals are almost sold out. They are at 90 per cent, you will see all the crowds coming back to the venue,” says Masisi.
TICKETS EXPENSIVE
Before the start of the tournament, some South Africans lamented the prices of the tickets. Masisis says the organising committee will not be reducing the prices but will instead donate tickets in order to fill up the venue and get a taste of the first Netball World Cup in Africa.
“It would be unfair if someone bought a ticket at R500 and now we sell it at R100. Instead of that, we are giving those tickets to our partners so they can give them to communities so they can come to the venue. We are giving some of those tickets out. Also part of the ticket sales is to generate revenue because we want netball after this World Cup to be sustainable and become professional. That is the only way they can receive the cash injection,” she says.
Shikwambana added that ticket pricing at World Cup competitions is usually high.
“We know that at such an event, the cost of ticketing is always very high. I have been doing comparisons with other World Cups and in this instance, unfortunately, we are sticking to the same costs,” she says.
The LOC will however not be giving away tickets for the semifinal and final matches. The deputy minister has also defended the prices of the tickets.
“I think we must acknowledge that the tickets are expensive but we must also acknowledge that this is a World Cup and that the decision of the ticket prices didn’t lie with this Local Organising Committee. It was the decision of the world body because that is how they are doing things. I know they have tried to lobby that the prices must go down but this is their international standard and there was little that could be done about it. I know this because I also raised it with them, it was something that was beyond the Local Organising body,” says Mafu.
Shikwambana admits that there are other issues that are affecting the tournament including the security concern at the hotel of the Jamaica and Singapore teams where theft was reported. She says they are dealing with all those matters.
“We are halfway through the tournament and it has been a unique experience for our players and our spectators. I want to assure you that in no event of this nature, things will go ahead without minor problems or hiccups, this is a World Cup after all. We have seen reports and criticism of the Netball World Cup board relating to service providers and non-payment issues. I am in no way avoiding the subject but the matter is in the hands of the lawyers on both sides. The matter is sub-judice I am not going to be able to comment on it,” says Shikwambana.