KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Cricket World Cup (CWC) organisers said Monday the event was on course to haul in record ticket sales as attendances soared beyond the 400 000 barrier following the Super Eight, second round.
Cricket World Cup 2007 Inc. said 403 000 fans had already come through the turnstiles following the Super Eight phase and with 570 000 tickets already sold, the event was on the verge of recording the highest ticketing revenue in the history of the event.
“The Caribbean is well on track to recording the highest ticketing revenue for a Cricket World Cup – beating the US$22 million in England in 1999 and US$10 million in South Africa in 2003,” Chris Dehring, the tournament’s managing director and chief executive, said.
“This is a significant achievement for a cluster of small developing nations whose combined population is a fraction of that of countries which have customarily hosted the Cricket World Cup.
The tournament has averaged 8 500 fans per match with the highest turnout being the 22 452 fans which attended the final second round match between West Indies and England at Kensington Oval last Saturday.
England’s second round match-up with South Africa, also staged at Kensington Oval, drew the second-highest attendance with 17 013 supporters passing through the turnstiles while West Indies’ first round clash with Pakistan attracted 16 574 spectators.
Initially, the tournament was plagued by low turnout but with several restrictions relaxed for the Super Eight phase, an increase in spectators followed.
“People around the world have been spellbound by the images of this event which are being shown across the globe and, as we have moved closer and closer to the business end of the event, the momentum has increased tremendously,” Dehring said.
“It’s down to the best four teams now – Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka – and the eyes of every cricket fan will be on the Caribbean as the region brings this event to a fitting climax.”