Steep ticket prices turn off Azkals fans

BY BONG PEDRALVEZ

NO wonder ticket prices to the LA Galaxy-Philippine Azkals friendly match on Dec. 3 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium are so steep.

A football official involved in organizing the match who declined to be identified told Malaya Business Insight the LA Galaxy team, starring celebrated British soccer star David Beckham, is being paid a whopping $2 million (roughly P84 million) as appearance fee.

"While I am not privy to the reason why the tickets are priced as such, the $2-million appearance fee for the LA Galaxy to play in Manila alone will tell you that organizing this friendly does not come cheap," the source said.

Compared to ticket prices of past official matches played by the Azkals at the Rizal Memorial pitch such as the Asian Challenge Cup and World Cup qualifiers, the rates for this friendly can be considered astronomical, with the cheapest pegged at P2,500 and the costliest at P15,500.

The other tickets fetch for P5,000, P9,500, P10,500 and P12,500 and were released through Ticketworld last Nov. 9.

Many were naturally unhappy at the exorbitant ticket costs, while some were grateful the Beckham-led American side was coming to town.

"No! Why is it so expensive?" Ana Soriano reacted in her twitter account over the report posted at a news website.

"Don’t think I am watching LA Galaxy vs. Azkals. Mom said grandstand tickets are so expensive," Maddy Coloco also tweeted.

Sportscaster and football fan Mico Halili, however, justified the prices, comparing the capacity of Rizal pitch to the Home Depot Center, the Galaxy home stadium.

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