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Football fans must pay a record admission fee for a local women’s match to be part of history on 2 December 2014 when the Trinidad and Tobago senior national women’s football team faces Ecuador in the second and final leg of a Canada 2015 Women’s World Cup Play Off from 6 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
(Copyright AFP 2014/Rodrigo Buendia)
Trinidad and Tobago held Ecuador to a goalless draw at 2,700 metres above sea level in Quito for the first leg on 8 November 2014 and now needs a win at home on December 2.
Trinidad and Tobago has never qualified for a FIFA women’s tournament before although the two island republic participated in the 2010 Women’s Under-17 World Cup as the host nation.
And the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), based on advice from its Local Organising Committee (LOC), has set the ticket prices at $200 (covered stands) and $100 (uncovered stands) for the return leg with children under-12 free in the uncovered section. The tickets are due to go on sale from November 17 at still undisclosed outlets.
The admission fee of $200 and $100 mirrors the price for Trinidad and Tobago’s vital 2006 World Cup qualifier against Mexico on 12 October 2005 when Stern John’s double got the “Soca Warriors” into a FIFA Play Off against Bahrain. Tickets for that historic match, which also featured icons Dwight Yorke and Russell Latapy, were sold out.
The price for Trinidad and Tobago’s first leg clash with Bahrain in 2005 rose to $300 (covered) and $150 (uncovered) and there were over 5,000 fewer spectators for the contest in Port of Spain.
The women’s game has never previously commanded a fee near to either sum.
(Copyright AFP 2014/Patrik Stollarz)
Four years ago, local fans paid $40 (covered) and $20 (uncovered) to watch Trinidad and Tobago’s three group matches at the Women’s Under-17 World Cup.
And tickets were priced at $20 when the Women Warriors began their World Cup campaign on Wednesday 20 August 2014 with a 10-0 rout of St Kitts and Nevis at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Roughly 1,000 fans came out, then, to cheer on their women’s team.
There were just under 4,000 supporters for the women’s last Port of Spain outing in the Caribbean Cup final on Tuesday 26 August 2014, which was priced at $50.
But Phillips, who is a LOC member, believes that the heightened interest around the team and the importance of the fixture justifies the price spike.
“(The price) wasn’t arbitrarily made,” Phillips told Wired868. “It was talked about at length at a LOC meeting and everyone collectively felt that it was a good price point… The Caribbean Cup was three months ago and a lot has changed since then in terms of the knowledge of the women’s programme.
“It was also one of the first tournaments we had hosted… So you cannot compare the CFU tournament to a World Cup qualifier.”
Responses to the prices on the social media thus far have been muted but, generally, positive.
(Courtesy SPORTT)
Phillips claimed that the revenue gained from the upcoming fixture would help further develop the women’s game.
“You cannot speak about raising the level of women’s football in one breath and then say it cannot demand a higher fee because that is the way it is always done,” said Phillips. “You have to look at it as a case by case situation. And this is a women’s team at the cusp of the World Cup and a very good team.”
But does the inflated women’s ticket prices, whether reasonable or not, run the risk of diminishing the volume of supporters for the crucial World Cup Play fixture?
Since most of Ecuador’s women players come from its coastal regions, Trinidad and Tobago’s temperature and humidity are not expected to create difficulties for “La Tricolor.” Apart from the ability, desire and preparation of the two teams, fan support represents the best chance of an advantage for the host nation.
In Quito, the Ecuador Football Federation (FEF) charged US$2 (TT$13) and US$5 (TT$32) for uncovered and covered stand tickets and US$10 for private boxes and was thrilled for a turnout of 17,500 patrons. Outside the Atahualapa Stadium, by means of context, it costs between US$5 and $10 for a meal at the mall.
(Copyright AFP 2014/Rodrigo Buendia)
However, Phillips dismissed any notion that the TTFA should mirror Ecuador’s approach in the first leg.
“That is Ecuador; Ecuador is not Trinidad and Tobago,” said the TTFA General Secretary. “We based our discussion based on feedback we got from the folks in Trinidad and Tobago. That was good and appropriate for Ecuador…
“When the tickets go on sale on Monday that is when the market will speak. But people are waiting to buy tickets and we already have pre-orders… So the overriding issue is the importance of the game and the level of excitement from the public.”
Phillips said the TTFA will pay match fees to the women’s team for the first time on December 2 while there is a bonus arrangement in place with the players should they qualify. He said the gate receipts will help to cover those costs.
“This is the first time the team has found itself in this position where they captured the hearts and minds of the nation,” said Phillips, when asked why there was a different pay scale for the upcoming game, “and it is the first time they are in the position where they are one win away from the World Cup. This is a big deal.”
In fact, the Women Warriors were one match away from the World Cup twice already when they played Costa Rica and then Mexico in last month’s 2014 CONCACAF Championship semi-finals and third place play off.
(Courtesy CONCACAF)
The FIFA Play Off is the last chance for the team, which overcome chaotic preparation with the dramatic technical staff alterations, visa issues that affected its pre-Caribbean Cup camp and, most famously, when the Warriors left for the pre-CONCACAF camp with just US$500 and no accompanying match officials.
Today, Phillips thinks the women’s squad, which is captained by Maylee Attin-Johnson and led by coach Randy Waldrum, can become the country’s second flagship team along with the senior men.
“This could be the launch pad game for the women’s team to be another flagship team for the national program,” he said.
Between 1,200 and 4,000 supporters turned out to watch the national men’s team play in the Caribbean Cup qualifying phase in Couva last month with prices set at $100 (covered) and $60 (uncovered).
The TTFA will soon know whether the women’s team, which is contesting a World Cup place rather than a Caribbean Cup crown, can surpass that level of interest. And whether the football body’s pricing of the upcoming contest is fair.
“We believe a crowd of 12,000 to 15,000 people will be a success, based upon past audiences,” said Phillips. “We would be happy with that amount going into the match. But we do believe this game has real potential to be a sell-out.”
The Hasely Crawford holds roughly 6,000 patrons in the covered stands and 16,000 in uncovered. If 4,000 covered tickets are sold and 8,000 uncovered, the TTFA will raise $1.6 million from the decisive December 2 affair.
At right is defender Rhea Belgrave.
(Courtesy CONCACAF)
Theoretically, if tickets were sold a $100 and $50 and 20,000 patrons (6,000 covered and 14,000 uncovered) turned up; the TTFA could raise $1.3 million, which would represent a $300,000 loss but with a near full stadium.
Of course, there is no proof that the ticket price would be the decisive factor in whether fans come out to the Tuesday evening contest.
The TTFA and the national women’s team are counting on supporters to turn up in their numbers on December 2 to roar them into the history books as the first Caribbean team to qualify for a FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Editor’s Note: Tickets for the T&T/Ecuador W/Cup Play Off are on sale at: all Kenny’s Sports Centre outlets, Trotter’s (Maraval Road, Port of Spain), Skinner Park (San Fernando), The Fan Club (Movietowne, Mucurapo), Ramsingh’s Sporting Goods (Chaguanas), All Out (Queen’s Park Oval), Econo Supermarket (Sangre Grande) and Heritage Sport (Scarborough).
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
Not that I am knocking the Wired868 business model – just acknowledging that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Not all payments are monetary.
Lasana – Google does charge for some of its services and consumers do pay for all of their services by giving up some of your privacy rights.
The essential questions here to my mind are:
1) Would you make more money by charging a lower price with more patrons or a higher price with less attendees?
2) Is this an event where the goal should be profit maximisation or should the aim be to have maximum support for the team?
3) What idiot thinks that the key to raising funds for football development is gate receipts? In this age of image rights, corporate sponsorship and television deals, gate receipts is not the major revenue earner for any major club, far less for a Federation.
4) Lastly – how much longer do we have to endure this lack of leadership and governance?
Simple. By charging too much you can sell nothing.
Relying on gate receipts to balance finances are 18th century thinking
I shouldn’t think that in the era of Google, I would have to explain how you can give your product to customers for nothing or next to nothing and still make loads of money.
I think I will do an opinion piece on that. Wired868 is an example of a company that earns revenue for employees while charging customers nothing at all.
So I’m speechless when I hear the TTFA justify ticket prices on the bills they have to pay.
@ the end of the day, sports is big business, they really don’t care about supporters, only your money.
That price good all the wagonist and them will stay home true supporters don’t study price we does support no matter the cost because plenty does fly foreign for thanksgiving sale and by Iphone and whatever else for exorbitant prices. If you are not a football fan or sports fan this thread will make no sense to you what’s so ever.
Under your proposed scenario, 1) the TTFA makes no profit, as the Die Hards can only fill the HCS about 1/3 and 2), the Women don’t get the benefit of a packed crowd. Like it or not, we need the support of fair weather fans to fill the stadium
Stef Fab I ketch what yuh saying but really and truly if people want to come and support they will find a way, cause brother what someone love they do support one good thing is kids under 12 free and they should also have something for school children other than that I honestly don’t have a problem with the price. If you have been supporting football in Trinidad and Tobago you will recognize whatever the price whether big or small if people not interested they just don’t show up. How much comes out and support pro league @ 40 dollars a game? Not very much.
I’m with u Russell Anthony Gordon what’s so hard saving $50 next week and another $50 the week after to support our women an as u said.. “true supporters don’t study price we does support no matter the cost”
Well Russell Anthony Gordon Maylee and the girls can’t distinguish bandwaggonists from die hard fans. All they want to hear is a stadium bebind them. Both your attitude and that of the TTFF has no regard for what the team needs. It’s selfish to assume that because you ok with the price that the rest of the country should just find the money or stay home. It’s about what can we do to fill the stadium. The women are worth it. Money as usual is blinding the TTFF. Look at the price Ecuador charged for admission. It was almost free.
Rose-Marie Ingrid Lemessy-Forde have you ever saw legacy sections empty because the price of a costume to high? People find money for what they love and believe in, monies from the gates will also go towards future support for the team as they claim, so I respectfully refute your point but also respect your opinion as an individual.
No scene Russell. You have to understand though this is not November 19th 1989. This event has not gained the anticipation and euphoria of “de road to Italy” or Germany. Yes people find money for what they believe in but let’s face it women’s football ain’t reach yet. So let’s give this team the best chance by ensuring that we have a 12th man out there. Maylee begged for it because she knows that there are not enough die hard fans to fill our stadium. By the way I would be very surprised if gate receipts go towards support of the team. Not the way things are run in Trinindad. Like Jack Warner stamp will be forever on local football!
Hmmmm so true, well I hope you will be attended and giving your full support none the less Lol
Listen this is crazy. This is not about making money for the TTFA. Its about filling the Stadium for a historic event. Like no decision maker in the TTFA looked at the game vs Ecuador, Were they aware of the ticket cost for the game in Ecuador? Did anyone listened to the call of the Captain Maylee Attin Johnson asking for the the noises of the Trinidad and Tobago fans to be 10 times louder than those of the Ecuador fans? Why can’t we encourage everyone to come out. The Price needs to be right. This is the women show lets really do something right for them for once. Come on Mr. Tim Kee. They have not qualified as yet it is not a world cup match. Lets help them with the support it’s the least the TTFA can do help Fill the Stadium. Minimum cost for a ticket make it AFFORDABLE that will encourage the whole of Trinidad and Tobago in the Stadium. This will in no way devalue the worth of the women nor the game. Please somebody help the Women Football in Trinidad and Tobago.
The TTFA should be looking to fill the stadium and attract every footballer and sports enthusiast in the country – rich and poor so that the crowd support would be there. They should also arrange transport after the game to encourage far and wide support. While most working adults with their own transport would be in a position to support at $200 they do not constitute the young posses that can really hype up the game. They should have special prices for school teams to get an Intercol atmosphere complete with the QRC, CIC and other college bands to support as the game is on a weekday. Trust me, we have a lot of poor families in Trinidad who can feed their entire family on $200.
Good article for record keeping, I’ll pay no more than 100$ so I will be goin to the uncovered stand however I can assure you that after we qualify those girls will be kicking up for their bonus that is promised in this article.
Savitri I know from experience that it is inevitable but tickets would be sold for 1 day where you have to go in long lines to purchase a limited amount Most times it ends in chaos. Support for all our national teams should be often and not a one of affair
Evans John, that is inevitable, go out and get your ticket(s) early.
I was looking at prices between $50 to $100 at the maximum. And I was looking forward to going with company that I would have had to pay for.
I love sports and I am willing to pay the price to support my Soca Women and my only concern is that they(the tickets) are snapped up by firms and we the true fans have to fight each other for the few remaining tickets
Lasana it’s too much for the event. I went all the games in the opening rounds and I also carried some kids. They are really lookin forward to it but how am I supposed to pay over $1,200 now for the game when back in august I paid $120. An increase in cost by ten times. can I say again how much I can’t stand sheldon phillips?
I think that is exactly it Fayola Bostic. he might be right too.
One fan told me he went to the Caribbean Cup women’s final with his two sons for $150. Now he would have to pay $600. So he has to consider it.
So some fans will be priced out.
Thanks Hazel 🙂
With the prices, looks like I will have to go alone.
So basically he is saying Trinis can be counted on to be bandwagonists and they should milk that?
Please accept my apologies Lasana, I immediately commented on the headline before I read through your prolific article…#GreatWork!!!
I mentioned it in the story. It was 20 and 40 dollars.
Hype sells tickets. No hype no sales.
The logic in this escapes me totally. And the statement that gate receipts are the building blocks for football development is the stupidest thing I have heard from the TTFA this week. Sadly, it is far from the stupidest thing they have said over the last few months, far less the year.
The stadium will get filled even at this price, but I think the TTFA is being a bit too optimistic at setting this price as a precedent.
You use the term “expert” very loosely Kester Lendor.
If I were to say someone was an “expert striker” I would have to back that up with goal stats.
Pray tell. What has Millien’s expert marketing abilities brought the TTFA since he came on board a year and a half ago?
Darren Millien is a Marketing expert and is an adviser to the TTFA so I’m not sure if a company is needed. Like u’ll I hope they got it right with this one.
Tongue in cheek lol….
Since they have no money for an auditing firm, I’m assuming they also have none for a marketing firm.
Greedy they greedy. Doh study them. Me eh know what marketing firm they use to come up with the price point but oh well only time will tell
They must know their priority. Is it to get noisy, enthusiastic fans to full the stadium? Or make as much money as they think possible?
Time will tell if they get the balance right between the two.
Typical M.O. of the TTFA. I understand basic economic principles of supply and demand but they may be overselling themselves. Allow women, children and supporters in general to fill the stadium.
These fellas just following the previous boss’s blueprint. All they are seeing is an opportunity to capitalize on. They don’t really care about atmosphere and getting the average die hard supporters to the stadium. It’s the “Vip” syndrome, which could only change when the mindset of the people in charge changes.
Somebody habe to get Ah Cut u know dat Lasana Its call using the Ocasion to make Money We Walk this road Many times
I don’t think they did
Football matches in Trinidad cost between $20 and $100 generally. That is just the market here. So I hope they guessed correctly in creating this price.
I don’t think $200 is a lot of money for many Trinis. But the local football market sets prices between $50 and $100 for most football games and they don’t even sell out.
So I feel the focus should be on getting a large turnout and nothing else for this game.
As Sheldon Phillips said, the market will decide. But I do hope we are going to get the noisiest, most passionate fans and not just those who can easily afford the fee and come to enjoy the atmosphere rather than to create an atmosphere.
This is the most important thing. Getting in the real football fans for the support.
I know. Sometimes I want to know where the love is.
#LickShot
Feedback from which folks !??! It should have been priced at $100 and $50 at a maximum, to drum up support and patronage for the women; allow them to know what it feels like to have a packed capacity crowd behind you like a 12th man. The headline should have read ‘TTFA Responds’ , because what the TTFA General Sec has said falls short of an ‘explanation’ in my opinion.
Why would he say the Caribbean cup cant compare to a WC qualifier. The Caribbean Cup was part of the qualifying process, it was the CFU leg of WC qualification. Is he an ass or a marble?
The women’s team has never played in front of a packed stadium, and unfortunately with those inflated prices that wont happen in December.
Filling the stadium should be the priority !!
#BadMove, #EatLittleAndLiveLong
They should put some Big screens in a park for the $40.00 crew.
Regardless of the price…. attendance is essential. We, Trinis, need to stop paying lip service, and go buy a ticket or two and find ourselves at the stadium in support of the Soca Princesses. Imagine, when it was $40, people hardly attended but quick to provide lip service. SO step up to the plate and support the ladies.
$200 TT seems reasonable. No?
Nah, is de TTFA… nothing they do is ever reasonable it seems. People who before didn’t give a rat’s ass about women’s football was jumping high and waving flag last month. Now that it’s time for the waggonists to put they money where they mouths are, people bawling corruption. Allyuh spending that same amount in one night at Movie Towne, but allyuh can’t afford to support the women/TTFA now?
I have no issue with this. Would be wise to announce a certain percentage of the profits would be paid to the team as well. That would certainly get a close to 22000 crowd.
Because someone getting Ah Cut Nothing New
I dont usually comment publicly on these issues but the TTFA/TTFF is trying to milk the public then the funds disappear becuase they never have money….
I despise this attitude of TTFA to price gouge and take advantage of the women’s team after they let them down so monumentally when the team went to the USA. I do not know if I believe what they say about trying to raise funds to cover the bonuses for the team, because clearly they have been mismanaging funds thus far, according to what I have been hearing, and also mismanaging the team in terms of the way they have been leaving things for last minute and having contingencies that do not actually work out. For the citizens of T&T, having faith in this team and believing they can go the distance is one thing, but I’m like Earl…maybe I will just catch it on TV, as I have no desire to encourage TTFA in their delusions that they can just set any price once the team is popular enough, and forget about the rest. They better not blame T&T when their stupid plan backfires.
Based on the attendance figures quoted in this article I have serious doubts about how filled the stadium will be but I hope for the team’s sake they get a full stadium, and more importantly I hope the proceeds from this match will not be lining the wrong pockets.
If I go to this match it would be the first match I ever attend in T&T so…it’s clear that football is not a priority for me…and therefore TTFA setting a price like that, just makes me want to continue to be a virtual fan…congrats to them for that…I was just getting psyched…! The team now start to get recognition and already they want to milk it dry to the bone. That is not the way to accomplish things. There are other means of making money than just gate receipts. If they knew a thing about anything, they would try to do their job properly and stop trying to make easy money.
(Gosh…them math questions getting more and more advanced! No more two + 2? Good thing I know my times tables!)
The stadium wasn’t full for the Bahrain game, yet tickets were sold out within hours of going on sale.
Well, here’s ‘the market’ talking: I was planning on making it a family outing on December. Now that I know the price, I’ll be watching on teevee or listening on the radio. And I don’t give two hoots about who say – or imply – that I cheap. I wukking fuh my money, lady, not you.
What I find strange is that after the TTFA left the team high and dry during their preparations, at the FIRST opportunity to make some money they try to milk the Soca Warrior Princesses for every cent they can muster! Amazing! And trying to justify the pocket-gouging prices too. Tim Kee, Phillips & Co. are really full of it .. where “it” is the latter half of …