Prime seat ticket for Azkals-LA Galaxy match pricier than govt worker's monthly pay

By Virgil B. Lopez

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

FANS planning to get prime seats for the exhibition match between the Philippine national football team Azkals and American club LA Galaxy on December 3 should expect to shell out at least P15,500.

The amount, which is nearly twice the monthly salary of an entry-level government employee at P8,287, may be the cost of a VIP Lower Box ticket even as official distributor TicketWorld has yet to announce the seating arrangements.

Tickets for the match set at the 13,000-seater Rizal Memorial Stadium are expected to go on sale beginning Thursday afternoon, according to the Philippine Football Federation (PFF).

The other ticket prices are P12,500, P10,500, P9,500, P5,000, and P2,000. Prices for the previous international matches including the World Cup qualifiers last July only range from P200 for side bleachers behind the goal to P3,000 in the VIP Lower Box seats.

"The PFF hopes of a sell-out crowd. The organizers decided on the ticket prices which we realize is necessary in their view to recoup the expense of bringing the LA Galaxy team to the Philippines," PFF treasurer Boni Labrido told Sun.Star.

Pressed to give details on the amount raised to bring the fancied American club led by football superstar David Beckham here, the PFF official refused to comment.

"The PFF is not privy to that information. Just a side note, the PFF’s role is only to provide the men’s national team and technical support for the match," he said.

Prices for the previous international matches including the World Cup qualifiers last July only range from P200 for side bleachers behind the goal.

All Ticketworld branches are located in Metro Manila although others who want to avoid the long queue can make an online purchase through its website.

Beckham, an English footballer who plays midfield for his team in the Major League Soccer, will be joined by skipper Landon Donovan, ex-Liverpool striker Robbie Keane, and goalie Donovan Ricketts, among others in the match against the Filipino booters.

The team will arrive on December 1 and will also conduct a football clinic among kids at the Rizal Memorial the next day.

Ticket price for the clinic fetches at P14,000 inclusive of the jersey, shorts, and soccer bag while those who want to witness the LA Galaxy’s practice on the same day will have to pay P1,500 for the bleachers and P3,000 for the grandstand seats. (Sunnex)

Sun Star