Businesses urged to help boost soccer ticket sales

NELSON Mandela Bay mayor Zanoxolo Wayile has urged big businesses to buy soccer tickets for their workers to boost sales ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) games in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

With concern about ticket sales growing, Wayile has made an impassioned plea for multinationalcompanies to get on board to buy tickets, as they did for the 2010 World Cup.

"Buying tickets for workers could encourage high production levels. It happened in 2010 when factories were giving workers tickets and other regalia as an incentive to go to the stadium," Wayile said.

Asked whether any complimentary tickets would be given away to underprivileged fans, he said no decision had yet been taken.

"We have not ruled out the possibility of complimentaries at an appropriate stage. We are having a meeting [tomorrow], it might be considered then." Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture MEC Xoliswa Tom said those who could afford to should consider buying tickets for the less privileged.

"I encourage those who can afford it to buy tickets for old age homes and orphanages. Blessed is the hand that gives," Tom said. "Let us make everyone feel that it is here, this is ours."

Besides individual tickets, which start at R50, there are incentives for fans to buy package deals. The packages are:

ýFollow Your Team, allowing fans to watch all games wherever their teams are playing during the group stage.

ýBuy Your Stadium, allowing fans to watch up to the last match in that stadium.

These packages and normal tickets can be purchased at the following outlets: selected Spar and SuperSpar Stores, tele-sales (087-9803000), online www.eqtickets.com ticket offices at match stadiums, [email protected]