Football Media

After three of five ticketing sales phases for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa, two-thirds of the available tickets have been sold.

The third ticketing sales phase, which will conclude with a random draw for oversubscribed matches on 1 February, saw a total of 1,206,865 applications received from 192 countries. Six matches are currently oversubscribed (in all categories), among them the semi-finals and the final. In total, 55 matches are oversubscribed in at least one category.

There was huge interest from South African residents, who accounted for 79 per cent of the total applications received (958,381) in this phase. This represents an increase of 24.9 per cent in applications from South African residents in the third sales phase when compared to the earlier ticketing stages.

Apart from the host country, the USA led the ticketing standings for the third phase with 50,217 applications, followed by the UK (41,529), Australia (15,523), Mexico (14,804), Germany (14,647) and Brazil (10,767). Increased interest was also noted in the neighbouring countries of South Africa – Botswana leading with 2,519 ticket applications, followed by Mozambique (1,795) and Namibia (1,191).

The next ticketing sales phase will start on 9 February 2010 and end on 7 April 2010. During these 58 days, more than 400,000 tickets will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis via www.fifa.com/2010 or in FNB branches (in South Africa only).

From 15 April 2010 onwards, ticketing centres will be open in each host city (with two in Johannesburg) where fans will be able to buy tickets over the counter and also collect their confirmed tickets.

To further enhance the service, ticketing call centres will be open during the fourth sales phase – both internationally and in the host country. The call centres will assist fans with enquiries and applications. The hotline number for international customers is 0041445832010, and for domestic customers 0831232010.

For residents of the host country, the allocation of category 4 tickets (the most affordable, for South African residents only – starting from USD 20/ZAR 140) will, as planned, increase significantly.

In recognition of Visa’s valued sponsorship, FIFA prefers Visa for ticket sales.

FIFA has taken new measures to facilitate fans’ access to match tickets for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

These measures are directed, in particular, at fans of the participating member associations (PMAs) and add to previously taken measures directed at South African residents. The move comes as the excitement surrounding the first World Cup on African soil continues to grow and only a week before the closing of the third ticket sales phase for the general public on 22 January.

Measures taken for the sale of tickets via the PMAs:

• To ensure that fans from the qualified associations have more time and easier access to tickets to watch their teams, FIFA has agreed to create a new PMA sales phase between 9 February and 7 April 2010. Only one such phase had previously been planned, starting on 5 December 2009 and closing on 13 January 2010. This second PMA sales phase will run at the same time as the fourth sales phase for the general public carried out via FIFA.com (and the FNB branches in South Africa only) and will operate on a first-come-first-served basis.

• For the first PMA sales phase, any tickets allocated to one of the participating teams for their matches that have not been sold will be provided to opposing teams who have received more requests from their fans than tickets allocated in that period. This will help ensure that those PMAs who received more requests than tickets available in that first sales phase will be able to fulfil those requests.

This extension of the sales process is a major step towards ensuring that all fans have the chance to purchase tickets for FIFA’s flagship competition via official sources.

As already announced, FIFA has set up an accommodation booking tool to help fans: www.FIFA.com/accommodation

For more information about ticketing and the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, please go to: www.FIFA.com/tickets

IFA has announced the launch of a brand new e-commerce environment where football fans worldwide will for the first time ever have the opportunity to buy items from FIFA’s official website, FIFA.com.

The site will offer event merchandise for several FIFA tournaments, including the upcoming FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa as well as a wide selection of clothing from FIFA’s new lifestyle clothing ranges. Furthermore, team-related products will also be available, offering football fans the chance to show their devotion to their favourite club and national teams.

“The e-commerce platform on FIFA.com is a vital component in our merchandising programme” says Thierry Weil, FIFA Marketing Director. “It is important that FIFA gives as many fans as possible the opportunity to access both FIFA’s new lifestyle clothing ranges as well as the event memorabilia for our top events”.

Online shoppers will have access to all of the latest items from FIFA’s authentic new sports lifestyle apparel, FIFA Collections. The Collections, which hit stores in August 2009 is a new, fresh fashion range which embodies a fusion of football, fashion and culture, reflected in the design and production of the all new casual-wear and accessories.

Event-related merchandise will primarily focus on Official Licensed Products for the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, with articles for future tournaments such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011™ and the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ becoming available as products are launched. Products from FIFA’s Commercial Affiliates will complete the assortment of goods.

The team-related products will include official jerseys from both national and club football teams, as well as a wide variety of further merchandise such as footballs, flags and scarves.

The e-commerce store will be run by FIFA’s Exclusive Worldwide Master Licensee, Global Brands Group.

In recognition of Visa’s valued sponsorship, FIFA.com prefers Visa for all transactions online.

Welsh Football League club Barry Town is on the hunt for a new owner, according to business transfer website, http://www.BusinessesForSale.com

Founded in 1888 Barry Town is a legend in Welsh footballing history. The club is ranked equal with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Italian side Napoli by UEFA due to their previous successes and league title victories.

This includes a 3-1 victory over Porto at Jenner Park in the European Champions League and matches against Dynamo Kiev, Aberdeen and Boavista in the Champions League and UEFA Cup group stages.

The side recently won promotion to Division 1 and is on the market as the current owner and chairman Stuart Lovering feels he has taken the club as far as he can.

“I bought the club out of receivership and I have spent a huge amount of time, effort and money rebuilding the business to its present position.” He said. “I now feel the time is right to pass the club onto the next generation so the club can grow further and faster.”

The club is being advertised on BusinessesForSale.com by business sales experts Turner Butler. Shaun Sweeney, Managing Director says:

“The club is an excellent proposition. We’re delighted to have it on our books.”

The club is a bargain at just GBP250,000.