World Cup ticketing policy revealed
South African cricket today announced a unique home-grown ticketing system that is considered good enough to be used at future international showpieces including the Olympic Games
2003 CWC
30-Aug-2001
South African cricket today announced a unique home-grown ticketing system
that is considered good enough to be used at future international showpieces
including the Olympic Games.
The UCB-Didata Ticketing System has been designed specifically for the
eighth Cricket World Cup to be staged in South Africa in February-March
2003. The system will, however, be used in future for all international and
inter-provincial cricket matches in South Africa and will be "live" in time
for the tour early next year by Australia.
For the past year, 19 full-time staff at information technology company
Dimension Data (Didata) have been working under project manager Graham Cook
on a system master-minded on behalf of the United Cricket Board of South
Africa (UCB) by Ian Smith, commercial director of the 2003 Cricket World Cup
(2003 CWC).
Ticket packages for 2003 CWC will go on sale to the general public on July
1, 2002, via the Internet, Call Centre and at the 12 World Cup venues in
South Africa.
In keeping with current international ticketing practice, tickets will be
sold in packages. There will be two basic varieties viz. Stadium Packages
for all games at a particular venue, excluding matches hosted by Zimbabwe,
and Follow-the-Team Packages for all Pool games involving a particular team.
Dr Ali Bacher, executive director of 2003 CWC, said today: "It is projected
that at least 800 000 tickets will be sold for the 54 matches of the
tournament. To achieve that objective in accordance with worldwide trends,
it has been decided to offer tickets for sale in packages. On the basis that
ticket prices will be affordable, I anticipate that the South African public
across the broadest spectrum will enthusiastically support the concept and
the tournament."
Dr Bacher said the system had been highly commended by Michael Eyers, deputy
CEO of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, who said it was far more efficient
than that in place for last year's Olympic Games. "Mr Eyers has informed me
that what we have is a system that can support the largest and most complex
of events - and that includes the Olympic Games."
The ticketing system is a generic one that can be used by all forms of
entertainment.
For the first time in South African sport, all tickets will be barcoded.
They will be scanned and verified through a sophisticated venue access
control system which will also generate a customer database holding valuable
information on all ticket purchases.
The system is designed to ensure maximum security and Stadium safety for the
paying customer.
The system has already been installed at Supersport Park Centurion, the
North West Stadium in Potchefstroom and at Kingsmead in Durban and will go
"live" at these venues for all matches from the start of the coming season.
By the time of the Australian tour to South Africa in April next year, all
of South Africa's World Cup venues will be "live".
How 2003 CWC ticketing process will work:
* Ticket prices will be finalised by the end of December 2001
after proposals have been received from the UCB affiliates hosting World Cup
matches and these have been considered by the respective finance committees
of 2003 CWC and the International Cricket Council (ICC).
* By mid-January 2002, letters will be sent to (a) SA
cricket's current national and provincial sponsors, (b) season ticket
holders (c) suite owners, (d) the cricket boards of the 14 participating
countries and (e) the official suppliers to the UCB for 2003 CWC in order to
establish their requirements for the purchase of tickets for the tournament.
These requests must be submitted by the end of February 2002 after which, by
the end of March 2002, the above parties will be notified as to what extent
their ticket purchase requirements can be met.
* Season ticket holders for this season (2001/2002) and next
(2002/2003) and owners of suites covering the 2003 CWC lease period will all
be entitled to purchase seats.
* Packages to the general public will go on sale on July 1,
2002, and these tickets will be available from November 1, 2002, for either
collection at the World Cup venues or by door-to-door courier delivery.
Purchasers of tickets via the Internet and Call Centre will be given a
reference number for collection/delivery purposes.
* Of the packages available to the general public on July 1,
2002, 60% will go on sale at the venues and 20% each via the Internet and
Call Centre. This is being done in order to allow as many local supporters
as possible to attend World Cup games at their home venues.
* Follow-the-Team packages will only be available for the Pool
or first round matches. Followers of teams reaching the Super 6s, Semifinals
and Final will be able to purchase a limited number of tickets prior to
those matches on a first-come-first-served basis.
* In addition, those supporters who have purchased a Stadium
package (where the stadium hosts three or more games) or a Follow-the-Team
package will have the opportunity on a first-come-first-served basis to
purchase a limited number of tickets - which number has still to be
determined - for the four prime games of the tournament viz. the Opening
Game, the two Semifinals and the Final.
* In order to accommodate as many spectators as possible at
World Cup games, a maximum of five packages per person may be purchased from
July 1, 2002.
* The Opening Ceremony in Cape Town on Wednesday, February 5,
2003, will be treated as a separate event and not part of a package.
* On December 1, 2002, individual match tickets will go on
sale depending on availability.
* In Zimbabwe, from July 1, 2002, tickets for the games in
Zimbabwe will go on sale at their two venues - Harare and Bulawayo.