By Nodley Wright,
Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Captain Horace Burrell yesterday announced increases in ticket prices for upcoming World Cup games at the National Stadium.
The increases were less than what the former army man projected it would have been on a call-in programme What's The Score on Monday night last. The price for a ticket to the bleachers has been increased by $100.00 to $800.00 and by $200.00 for the Grand Stand to $1700. The hardest hit was the VIP area which has been increased by $500.00 to $3500.
On Monday Burrell had projected that the prices could be increased to $1000 for the bleachers and $2000 for the Grand Stand.
Burrell said the new prices will take effect on Saturday, June 16 when Jamaica host the United States at 1:00pm.
"I met with the finance committee of the JFF and we have just revisited the increased cost facing the federation as it relates to the hosting of international games at the National Stadium. We were forced to increase the entry charges to meet these increases. Among the increases which according to Burrell, forced the hand of his organisation, is the steady rise in the rental fee for the National Stadium. "The cost of rental of the National Stadium has moved from $500,000 for the Trinidad and Tobago game to $700, 000 for the Honduras game and now to $1.5m for the US game," said Burrell placing emphasis on the final figure.
Added to the stadium rental, Burrell said was the increased security fees. This he said went up by 300 per cent and now cost "in excess of $2m".
Players fees and incentives have also bled the JFF coffers Burrell further explained with support from general secretary, Horace Reid who would interject from time to time.
"Players remuneration and incentives have been increased by 100 per cent since the T&T game.
"The Federation has 16 players playing in US and Europe who receive a fee of $US2,000 per game. They also receive match-winning incentives of US$2,000 for winning the game at home. If they win the game overseas they receive US$3,000.
"If the game is drawn at home they receive $US1,000. If it is drawn abroad, they receive $1,500. This is also applicable to local-based senior players. Local-based senior players all receive monthly-stipends of $100,000.
