I looked on the FAI website for ticket arrangements for February 18, and found that you have to buy tickets for the other 2 friendlies as well at the same time-package costs 60 euro. Now, I live in the North, in Bangor, Co Down, which is roughly 100 miles. Now I would be willing to make the journey once to see the World Champions, but due to that overlooked fact-the fact that I have a life- I wouldn't be able to do it 3 times. Why do the FAI not consider folk like me, who enjoy football, but aren't truly obsessed??
I fairness, it is Ireland that you are coming to support (hopefully!!). Its the same old problem that people only want to go to the good games and are not prepared to support the team when they are playing lesser teams. Although, you could hardly classify Czech Republic and Romania as much lesser. I go to every single home qualifying game no matter who it is against and I go to a lot of the away games. I dont make all the friendlies as I live in london and I would have no money left if I travlled to every game. However, I am more than happy to pay EUR 90 to go and see Ireland play three quality games in the build up to Euro 2004 and the World Cup Qualifiers. If you just want to go and see Brazil playing and have no intention of going to any other Ireland games, then frankly I think you should apply to the Brazilian FA for tickets or catch a plane to see them play in Rio.
Yep, it is money. As a Brazil fan in England I have no interest in the other 2 Republic games. I will watch it live on Sky and hope to see a great Brazil win!!
I think, no offence, it's to stop people who only want to go and see Brazil getting tickets ahead of those who would go and see Ireland play no matter who the opposition are. Well, that and money. I'd be going to all three matches myself anyway, if I manage to get one of these tickets.
the packages on offer seem like good value to me given the considerable expense of bringing brazil to dublin, and the czechs and romanians are good quality sides too. as for the necessity of buying tickets for all three games together - nothing wrong in my book with favouring fans who want to go and support the team in all the games over folks who just want to see the world champions. so i think to say it's just about "money" is being a little unfair to the FAI in this instance. the child terrace ticks are a great idea too.
No actually he hit the nail on the head. I read an article today that the reason for the package is the extraordinary cost paid to Brazil to play, coupled with the fact that they had to give the South American tv rights away. Or at least that's their excuse, but it sounds about right to me.
uh...well, obviously the price of anything is about "money", so in that sense, yeah, he hit the nail on the head with his one-word post. i just wondered if maybe there was some criticism of the FAI implicit in the comment (possibly there wasn't); on that basis i made the point that I thought the package was good value, etc etc....essentially the same as you've said yourself there... "as you say yourself there..."
Chances are neither the Romania nor Czech game would have sold out without the Brazilian incentive (possibly the Czech might have but......) Anyway, it's common practise in the US to package unattractive games with the sell outs and that's exactly what the FAI were doing. Somewhat dodgy in my book; no matter what the attractiveness of the deal there still would have been thousands (read fair weather fans) who would have bought Brazil only, if they could.