J-Bay Blue
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 5 Oct 2009
- Messages
- 369
Some facts and information from a local blue who lives and works in SA (and has a Masters in Finance)
Local ticket purchases: The ticket sales system (FIFA rules) has been incredibly complex and up to now, locals have had to apply in a type of merit lottery system, with a low probability of success (most applications were unsuccessful).
Up to now, demand has exceeded supply by a healthy margin.
The OTC - over the counter - sales are only just starting.
The stadia will be full - trust me.
The performance of the local SA team Bafana bafana will not have any negative effect on the match attendances (assuming that they get knocked out very quickly) - few locals give them much of a hope of winning a single game, let alone getting past the group stages.
We have basically one world class player - Steven Pienaar. The rest tend to play in lower foreign leagues or the local PSL (UK Championship level at best - possibly third tier).
Service providers - airlines, hotels etc jacking up prices: This is the subject of intense local media coverage, and some prices have been increased based on the laws of supply and demand, but not by the factors that some bluemooners have quoted.
Many local prices are still dirt cheap by UK standards, and even if increased a bit will be far lower than UK:
Lager - Under 1 pound.
20 Cigarettes - 2 pounds
Petrol - 70p per litre - arond 3 pounds a gallon.
3 Star hotel - around 60 pounds a night
Security: SA has hosted the Cricket world cup, Rugby World Cup, Cricket IPL and a number of other events, with no known reported incidents of tourists being killed, assaulted or mistreated.
The risk of an Al Queda or other terrorist attack is far lower than in London, Paris or Belfast.
Very few people in SA would argue with your disparaging views on FIFA and Monsieur Blatter - the SA taxpayer will be footing the bill for years to come.
Expect Northern European teams to possibly struggle - the local playing conditions will be much more familiar to teams from S America and Southern Europe (Bolivia and Ecquador migh do well in Jo'burg, which is 2,000 metres above sea level)
Local ticket purchases: The ticket sales system (FIFA rules) has been incredibly complex and up to now, locals have had to apply in a type of merit lottery system, with a low probability of success (most applications were unsuccessful).
Up to now, demand has exceeded supply by a healthy margin.
The OTC - over the counter - sales are only just starting.
The stadia will be full - trust me.
The performance of the local SA team Bafana bafana will not have any negative effect on the match attendances (assuming that they get knocked out very quickly) - few locals give them much of a hope of winning a single game, let alone getting past the group stages.
We have basically one world class player - Steven Pienaar. The rest tend to play in lower foreign leagues or the local PSL (UK Championship level at best - possibly third tier).
Service providers - airlines, hotels etc jacking up prices: This is the subject of intense local media coverage, and some prices have been increased based on the laws of supply and demand, but not by the factors that some bluemooners have quoted.
Many local prices are still dirt cheap by UK standards, and even if increased a bit will be far lower than UK:
Lager - Under 1 pound.
20 Cigarettes - 2 pounds
Petrol - 70p per litre - arond 3 pounds a gallon.
3 Star hotel - around 60 pounds a night
Security: SA has hosted the Cricket world cup, Rugby World Cup, Cricket IPL and a number of other events, with no known reported incidents of tourists being killed, assaulted or mistreated.
The risk of an Al Queda or other terrorist attack is far lower than in London, Paris or Belfast.
Very few people in SA would argue with your disparaging views on FIFA and Monsieur Blatter - the SA taxpayer will be footing the bill for years to come.
Expect Northern European teams to possibly struggle - the local playing conditions will be much more familiar to teams from S America and Southern Europe (Bolivia and Ecquador migh do well in Jo'burg, which is 2,000 metres above sea level)