Canucko
06 Jul 2007, 07:21 PM
Paid 30 bucks to see half a game :mad: :mad: !! Luckily I was in the front 1/3rd of the line up of thousands.. this article explains it better than I can (from the Edmonton Journal)
Canada, and fans, shut out at FIFA
Ticket snag keeps thousands waiting to see Austria win 1-0
Heather SchultzThe Edmonton Journal
Friday, July 06, 2007
EDMONTON - Thousands of angry fans waited in long lineups in scorching heat to get into Commonwealth Stadium Thursday, while inside, the clock ticked toward another devastating loss for Canada.
"This is supposed to be our national soccer stadium and you got to wait an hour to get in?" said Dan Duncan, 24. "This is a joke."
The problem entering the FIFA Under-20 World Cup game between Canada and Austria arose with the "will call" tickets, which are purchased either by phone or on the Internet and then picked up at ticket windows beside Gate 13 at the southeast corner of the stadium.
As fans grew more disgruntled and the game progressed, organizers struggled to get them in faster, first allowing in fans with printed confirmations, and eventually anyone with written confirmation numbers.
Val Close, general manager of the tournament's Edmonton site, said talks were already underway with Ticketmaster to reduce the wait for future games by adding more staff and allowing tickets to be picked up earlier. She said the will call gate opening only an hour before the game, coupled with the early start and people rushing to get there straight from work, caused the backlog.
"I encourage fans to get there early," she said.
People waiting to buy walk-up tickets said they were waiting about half an hour.
Despite the wait and the grumbling fans, police said there were no disturbances in the line. Duncan was grinning as he clutched his long-awaited ticket, but others were unimpressed.
"The place is ringed with doors, and they couldn't open another one?" said Ernie Bavle, 52.
"I expect this from a Third World country," said Sergio Medina, 53, who travelled up from Calgary for the game.
"They're lucky it's a Canadian crowd," yelled out a woman in a pink vest as she rushed to the gate, printed confirmation in hand.
By 6:45 p.m. the queue was manageable, with maybe 30 people left waiting. But by then the 90-minute game was more than half over.
Inside, the scene was festive, with fans draped in national colours and waving flags.
Chilean colours, for the second game of Chile versus Congo, were also popular.
"I've been a Canadian fan for over a decade," said Scott Packer, 24, who travelled from Lethbridge.
"I'm really hoping that this game launches soccer in Canada into a bit more of the public spotlight. It's a really worthwhile game. We have awesome players."
Packer and his friends, all members of The Voyageurs, an online support group for the team that boasts more than 500 members, brought a snare drum as a prop. They led those nearby in chants.
"I love the moves they are doing," said Hanson Boakai, 10, a Liberian who now calls Edmonton home. Hanson and his cousin, watching their first professional game, were taking careful mental notes to mimic the moves later.
Resigning themselves to an eventual 1-0 loss, fans still cheered heartily.
"I'm pretty devastated right now," Packer said after the game. But he and his buds will be back for the Congo game where he's hoping for an early win for Canada.
"Win or lose, I'll support them."
Canada, and fans, shut out at FIFA
Ticket snag keeps thousands waiting to see Austria win 1-0
Heather SchultzThe Edmonton Journal
Friday, July 06, 2007
EDMONTON - Thousands of angry fans waited in long lineups in scorching heat to get into Commonwealth Stadium Thursday, while inside, the clock ticked toward another devastating loss for Canada.
"This is supposed to be our national soccer stadium and you got to wait an hour to get in?" said Dan Duncan, 24. "This is a joke."
The problem entering the FIFA Under-20 World Cup game between Canada and Austria arose with the "will call" tickets, which are purchased either by phone or on the Internet and then picked up at ticket windows beside Gate 13 at the southeast corner of the stadium.
As fans grew more disgruntled and the game progressed, organizers struggled to get them in faster, first allowing in fans with printed confirmations, and eventually anyone with written confirmation numbers.
Val Close, general manager of the tournament's Edmonton site, said talks were already underway with Ticketmaster to reduce the wait for future games by adding more staff and allowing tickets to be picked up earlier. She said the will call gate opening only an hour before the game, coupled with the early start and people rushing to get there straight from work, caused the backlog.
"I encourage fans to get there early," she said.
People waiting to buy walk-up tickets said they were waiting about half an hour.
Despite the wait and the grumbling fans, police said there were no disturbances in the line. Duncan was grinning as he clutched his long-awaited ticket, but others were unimpressed.
"The place is ringed with doors, and they couldn't open another one?" said Ernie Bavle, 52.
"I expect this from a Third World country," said Sergio Medina, 53, who travelled up from Calgary for the game.
"They're lucky it's a Canadian crowd," yelled out a woman in a pink vest as she rushed to the gate, printed confirmation in hand.
By 6:45 p.m. the queue was manageable, with maybe 30 people left waiting. But by then the 90-minute game was more than half over.
Inside, the scene was festive, with fans draped in national colours and waving flags.
Chilean colours, for the second game of Chile versus Congo, were also popular.
"I've been a Canadian fan for over a decade," said Scott Packer, 24, who travelled from Lethbridge.
"I'm really hoping that this game launches soccer in Canada into a bit more of the public spotlight. It's a really worthwhile game. We have awesome players."
Packer and his friends, all members of The Voyageurs, an online support group for the team that boasts more than 500 members, brought a snare drum as a prop. They led those nearby in chants.
"I love the moves they are doing," said Hanson Boakai, 10, a Liberian who now calls Edmonton home. Hanson and his cousin, watching their first professional game, were taking careful mental notes to mimic the moves later.
Resigning themselves to an eventual 1-0 loss, fans still cheered heartily.
"I'm pretty devastated right now," Packer said after the game. But he and his buds will be back for the Congo game where he's hoping for an early win for Canada.
"Win or lose, I'll support them."