Hectic first day as CWC tickets go on sale
By Isaiah Chappelle
Guyana Chronicle
February 2, 2007
CROWDS swarmed the booth of the Guyana CWC 2007 Local Organising Committee (LOC) in Middle Street, Georgetown, as Cricket World Cup tickets went on sale, yesterday, despite the actual tickets not being ready.
LOC’s Finance, Commercial & Ticketing Manager Chetram Ramdihal, yesterday, told Chronicle Sport that it was a hectic day and he was optimistic that all the tickets for the Guyana matches would be sold out.
“Looking at sales in the second phase to the first, there was a dramatic increase. The third is the phase the locals are accustomed to, where you pay and get the actual ticket.”
He disclosed that the booths would be open daily from 08:00 h to 16:00 h and would go beyond the closing time, should there be a crowd.
“And as it comes closer to the matches, we will go later. We will also be open on Saturdays from this weekend. The sale will continue to the last match on April 28.”
However, Ramdihal said there was a hitch with the printer in the network and the actual tickets were not available. Patrons still went through the process of purchasing and were given a confirmation letter.
“They will be given the tickets as soon as the printer is integrated with the network. It may be (today) or another day or two.”
The quota per match increased to 20 tickets per person and fans can also purchase them online at www. Cricketworldcup.com, using Visa or Mastercard credit cards.
In this phase, patrons choose their actual seats in the various categories. Category One tickets cost US$100, Category Two US$75, Category Three US$25 and the Party Stand US$90.
Ramdihal said the number of Category Three tickets was increased to ensure all fans get a chance to be part of the mega event. A section of the grass mound was converted to accommodate them.
Though the sale figures were not at hand yet, the official said through informal interaction with patrons, he found they were interested in all categories.
He also stressed that the local booths were selling not only tickets for the matches at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence but for all the venues.
Tickets are available for Warm-Up Matches, Opening Ceremony (for which individuals can buy an unlimited amount of tickets), Group Stage and Super 8.
Patrons have to provide their bio data for “control purpose” in the event the ticket is stolen or lost.
“We will be able to verify the rightful owner of the ticket.”
An address must be given and a form of identification – National ID card, passport or driver’s licence and the number on the document is noted.
However, buyers have to be 18 years old and older because they have to sign a kind of contract.
“They have to read and understand the conditions, so they must attain the legal age of 18 years.”
A 17-year-old Queen’s College student told Chronicle Sport that he was too young to buy his ticket and would have to ask his brother to do the purchase for him.
The sixth former hails from Uitvlugt and was at LOC booth earlier in the day, but the crowd was too big and he returned close to closing when there were just about five persons.
He said he would use his own money to buy four Category Two tickets to see the matches involving West Indies, South Africa, Pakistan and India.
A big cricket fan, who represented QC at the Under-16 level, he predicted that West Indies, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Australia, all his favourites, would reach the semifinals.
“The West Indies have a pretty good team. All the batsmen have ODI centuries to their names. That’s very good. They will certainly get into the Super Eight.”
Another middle-aged fan said he would buy four Category Two tickets to see all the West Indies matches.