The Editor, Sir:

Watching the ICC World Cup cricket on live TV here in Toronto, Canada, it is glaringly obvious that the attendance numbers at the various venues are very low by sporting standards. How will this affect the financial results of the ICC World Cup event and who will underwrite any losses? Or maybe, there will not be any financial
losses because of lucrative Cable TV broadcast rights, vending licences and advertising revenue.

My suggestion is that the ticket prices are out of the reach of most local W.I. cricket fans. We do not pay those prices for NFL, MLB and NBA games here. Cricket is not an elitist sport and therefore prices should allow participation by lower-income fans. The ICC should not depend on tourists to fill the stands, especially when the West Indies team is not playing. The business model should reflect a goal of ensuring that 75 per cent of the seating is filled by locals. The good old economic laws of supply and demand are relevant here. In this sport with a mass appeal, there is definitely a price elasticity of demand.

Wonderful job

Chris Dehring has done a wonderful job so far, but empty seats could become his undoing among local fans and players alike. Drop the prices now by at least 50 per cent and trade off higher prices for higher volumes of attendance, before it?s too late. For fans already holding tickets, allow them to take a second person for free. That?s what smart business people do!

Otherwise the ICC or taxpayers of the W.I. countries will have to pay for this mistake. Not to mention that vendors and concessions will not make money from empty stands. At existing ticket prices, tourists nor locals will NOT fill those seats. The barrier is PRICE! Lower prices will get more people in those seats and that will be better for cricket.

Financial losses aside, what about the effect on cricket, fans and the players" Players do not like to play to empty stands, even though thousands are watching on international TV. How will West Indies cricket fans feel, after being kept out of attending games that were priced out of their reach"

I still hope to visit my country for the games, but for now, I am enjoying the cricket from my living room. I thank the ICC and Chris Dehring for all their hard and commendable work. We just want more excitement from more people in the stands and for Cricket World Cup to be a financial success plus satisfied local fans.

I am, etc.,