World Cup Organisers

[Aerie]

Sorry to be a little negative, but can't help but notice the poor attendance to all games at this World Cup. I could understand the grounds not being full for the away teams, but even attendance at the West Indian games has been poor.

We all know about the ticket prices and how ridiculous it is the amount they charge. It is just impossible for the locals to justify paying the majority of their weekly wage to attend. Mark Nicholas has also brought up during recent games the hopeless situations of people needing to walk miles from car parks to the ground - even though the space outside the ground is empty scrub. Add to this the grounds don't seem to be in the best locations within the cities and the long line-ups (over two hours) just to purchase tickets.

I thought this World Cup was meant to be the saviour for cricket in the Caribbean, but it appears the organisers have stuffed up big time. At least if the grounds were full it would not only look better on tv, but would create an atmosphere for the local children to aspire to be involved one day and generate excitement for the sport in the West Indies. The pitches have been fantastic, but little else has gone right. I guess the big wigs already have all the money they needed from pre-sold television rights around the world...

[jackpot jim]

Spot on Aerie.
No food and Drink allowed into grounds.
No pass outs issued. once u r in u stay in.
That was particularly frustrating for fans at today Aust v Bang match as it was delayed,
waiting for the outfield to dry for about 4 - 5 hours.

Whats with the swimming pool inside the ground in Antigua?
As an Adelaide oval member, I'll being demanding one b4 next year to bring the ground
up to world class standard.

[MagicKiwi]

The ICC is at fault here. They set the ticket prices. I doubt locals would be as worried about the walk if they could afford the ticket.

[Aerie]

Another thing is the banning of instruments. C'mon.... it's cricket in the West Indies.... instruments are a must! I wonder if one day cricket will get replaced by 20/20 sooner rather than later.

[RustyCage]

Quotes from cricinfo.com

"We had to rely on the advice of the local organising committee to establish the prices of the tickets. It is, in retrospect, a little too rich for the local palate."
Malcolm Speed washes the ICC's hands of responsibility for empty stands throughout the World Cup


"At the moment we are doing this using a lot of spreadsheets and they just cannot cope with the sheer volume of the money and the projects that are coming in from it."
Faisal Hasnain, the ICC's chief financial officer, admits that there's just too much money flooding in for it to cope. Not much solace to those in the Caribbean unhappy as inflated prices at World Cup venues ...


"Please, organisers, please, give a thought to the people that really matter - the spectators - and get the grounds filled up."
Mark Nicholas appeals for action as West Indies played their match with New Zealand against the empty backdrop of the Sir Vivian Ground in Antigua

"Malcolm Speed is not a man who elicits a great deal of sympathy from the cricket community. He is a cold fish, lawyerly in every respect."
Michael Atherton on the ICC's No. 1 mackerel ... er, man

[Hondo]

I couldn't believe the West Indies v Australia game wasn't a sell-out. I agree with the posts here ..... the ICC should have ensured ticket prices were set at a level so the grounds can sell out and should have allowed the colour of West Indies cricket culture (drums, etc) to be part of the World Cup. I heard a profound comment on 5AA the other night - with TV deals becoming more and more lucrative the organisers are starting to forget about the people who actually want to go to the games. My maths tell me that a full crowd buying tickets at 60% of the current price will generate as much gate money as a 1/2 full crowd paying top dollar, someone has stuffed up the spreadsheet calcs on this one.

[RustyCage]

Quotes from cricinfo.com

"We had to rely on the advice of the local organising committee to establish the prices of the tickets. It is, in retrospect, a little too rich for the local palate."
Malcolm Speed washes the ICC's hands of responsibility for empty stands throughout the World Cup

As the quote suggests, the ICC have wiped their hands of responsibility. Is anyone suprised? The ICC are never wrong....

[jackpot jim]

ICC

Incompetent Cricket Co-ordinaters.

[Rik E Boy]

On the teeve this morning a local came on and said that it cost 100 dollars US to get into one of the games and no instruments and food as mentionded earlier in this thread. For the West Indians, Cricket is a carnival but the ICC have attempted to replicate the over officious sterility that was put in place for the Gabba test match last year.

The West Indies are not a collection of wealthy nations and a hundred us is the average wage (according to the West Indian who was on this morning). A week's wages and then you can't bring in your drums and you have to shell out for food as well? If I had caused the world's best cricketers to be playing in front of empty stands I would be washing my hands of it as well rather than admiting to the world that I had been directly or even indirectly responsible for killing off the World's premier cricketing event and causing irrepairable damage to the game in the Carriebean.

ICC - you idiots!

regards,

REB