WC 2010 sold out?

[Franz]

Is this true?

LONDON (2010 FIBA World Championship) – With 100 days to go before the start of the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey, the organisers say all tickets that were available on public sale for the event have already sold out.

Only a small contingent will be made available shortly before the event begins on 28th August.

Around 350,000 people are expected to attend the Championship, which culminates in the final on 12th September.

The event will be played in four cities - Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Kayseri - and feature 24 teams, with 288 players playing 80 games. Two new venues have been built especially for the Championship.

http://www.turkey2010.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/10/fwcm/news/p/eid/4728/nid/40014/sid/4728/article.html

[Federoy]

That's excellent news for both the event organizers and FIBA. I can still remember how embarassing the half-empty arena looked game after game in 2002 when Indianapolis hosted it. It wasn't just a bad showing by the US National Team, but it was one of the worst organized and publicized WC in recent memory.

[Levenspiel]

That doesn't sound right. I wish it did, but we are not that basketball-aware country.

I tried to buy tickets through the organisation's website, just now. For preliminary round, Ankara and Istanbul are not in the options. I guess those are sold out. Zone 2, 3 & 4 can be purchased in Izmir. I didn't check the other alternatives.

I believe more tickets will be available later. Because something like "3rd wave" is written on tickets page. More waves should follow.

[mvblair]

That's excellent news for both the event organizers and FIBA. I can still remember how embarassing the half-empty arena looked game after game in 2002 when Indianapolis hosted it. It wasn't just a bad showing by the US National Team, but it was one of the worst organized and publicized WC in recent memory.

Indianapolis hosts great sporting events and is the US capital of amateur sporting events. When they host high school tournaments or NCAA tournaments, the city is always packed. But 2002 was pathetic. The US/China game probably had the highest attendance. They did nothing to promote the WC. And this is Indiana, the supposed heart of basketball!!

If Turkey has sold out, or is close to selling out, that's fantastic. It shows that basketball is growing in Europe because there are probably a lot of travelers planning vacations around these games.

[JGX]

Indianapolis hosts great sporting events and is the US capital of amateur sporting events. When they host high school tournaments or NCAA tournaments, the city is always packed. But 2002 was pathetic. The US/China game probably had the highest attendance. They did nothing to promote the WC. And this is Indiana, the supposed heart of basketball!!

That's rather harsh. IIRC only the 1994 WC in Canada had a higher total attendance at the time (dunno if the 24-team WC in Japan was also higher, lots of empty seats there too). Attendance for the later stages was disappointing as ticket prices were too high.

To have packed arenas you need matchups that appeal to neutral fans (or really small arenas), and the unfortunate reality is that most matchups just aren't appealing to large numbers of fans.

[mvblair]

That's rather harsh. IIRC only the 1994 WC in Canada had a higher total attendance at the time (dunno if the 24-team WC in Japan was also higher, lots of empty seats there too). Attendance for the later stages was disappointing as ticket prices were too high.

To have packed arenas you need matchups that appeal to neutral fans (or really small arenas), and the unfortunate reality is that most matchups just aren't appealing to large numbers of fans.

Don't take me off my soapbox, dude.

[JGX]

Don't take me off my soapbox, dude.

How was I supposed to know, when you didn't use the soapbox smiley?

[Victorious]

Don't take your heats off just yet. People are buying packages to watch all group games, but usually only attend their favorite team. As a result, many empty seats are left open.

One thing is for sure though. International basketball popularity has risen tremendously during the last decade. I remember that the website of the 2006 WC in Japan crashed several times. It's been going upward ever since.

[Levenspiel]

You probably tried to purchase the package tickets right? To watch all the game of a NT.

I have been trying to buy separate tickets just for 1 game (you know which) for the past few days and all it says a 3rd wave will follow, tickets not available for the moment etc.

So if the tickets would be sold out they would announce it in the past days. Otherwise no tickets have been sold in the past few days, so why announce it now?

Probably a trick to combine the 100 days countdown with pressure to the fans to get their tickets "before it's too late" and to remind them the tournament is getting close.

By the way, which city you are going to?

Yes, I was doing that. Though my intention is watch all the games in the group. Let's see. I will look into this more closely through my friends in Izmir. So, I'm gonna be in Izmir first, then in Istanbul for the next phase (with 90% certainty).

[daniab]

there's an important fact here is that Turkey is in the middle of all continents.
As an exemple a lot of Lebanese are going to turkey to support our team since its close and less expensive while they wouldnt be that interested to go to US (not anything against US , again its abt geographical and economical considerations).

[Franz]

I figure there are a lot of Lebanese fans going to Turkey (even if they can't watch the games in the arena). Correct?

I'm curious though about the other teams. Would Greece bring a lot of fans since it's close to Turkey as well as Iran and Jordan? I know that basketball isn't significantly popular in Iran and Jordan. But would this be a different case since WC is happening so close to their countries?

[daniab]

I figure there are a lot of Lebanese fans going to Turkey (even if they can't watch the games in the arena). Correct?

I'm curious though about the other teams. Would Greece bring a lot of fans since it's close to Turkey as well as Iran and Jordan? I know that basketball isn't significantly popular in Iran and Jordan. But would this be a different case since WC is happening so close to their countries?

why wouldnt they watch it in the arena ? most of our fans are buying packages

[zik013]

guys, what do you think.. me and my mates missed the tix in last sale...
We want to come for the semifinals and finals... should we book our flights and hotels now and worry about the tix when we are in Istanbul ??
the arena is quite big, when were were in Eurobasket 2009, there were a lot of spare tickets sold outside the palace.


Or is it possible to buy the tickets in Turkey NOW ?? have some friends there, maybe they can get the tix for us. Anybody knows ?

thanks

[daniel050]

sold out already?

you gotta be kiddin me!!

[JGX]

Recent history of WC attendance:

1998: "FIBA: Low Attendance hurting sport's image"

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-19569087.html

2002: "Poor Attendance at World Games"

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-67148690.html

2006: "Not so big in Japan: World championship fails to draw fans"

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-127961320.html

Hopefully Turkey is breaking the trend.