BY DYLAN BUTLER
Dr. Danny Jordaan, the CEO of the Local Organizing Committee for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, held a press briefing at the South African Consulate General in Manhattan Friday afternoon to give an update on South Africa's preparation for next year's competition.
Here are a few tidbits from Jordaan's presentation.
* The United States leads all countries (outside of the host nation) in ticket sales, thus far, with 93,300.
* There have been 1.8 million ticket requests from 205 countries.
* Some 415,000 jobs will be created in South Africa, including 20,000 on stadium construction.
* 65 percent of the tickets (400,000 in total) for next month's Confederations Cup has been sold.
* Soccer City Stadium, the 98,000-seat jewel of the World Cup in Johannesburg which will be the host of the opening and closing ceremonies, is slated to be completed by August. The same is true for Peter Mokaba in Polokwane.
* Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth is complete and will host its first event on June 16.
* Sunil Gulati was also in the house and said not only does the U.S. lead in ticket sales, but also in broadcast rights.
What do you think of the updates? Are you planning on going to the World Cup? Have you already purchased tickets? Is South Africa really ready to host the World Cup? Share your thoughts below.
There’s nothing wrong with not supporting MLS while supporting the national team. I will watch every USMNT game in person that is possible, and all the others on TV, but you won’t find me watching an MLS game either in person or on TV. It’s not the atmosphere that’s lacking – it’s the quality on the field. And that’s quite something considering one of my close friends is on an MLS coaching staff, and even he says the quality isn’t where it needs to be. But before you go off thinking I’m some kind of Eurosnob, consider this: I’ll watch any college match, any day of the week. There’s a greater sense of passion and pride, knowing that every game is of utmost importance.
Stop with the “400,000 jobs” created. Just like Beijing in 2008, those will all disappear a week after the closing game.
harry – What are you talking about? There is no “US pot” for tickets. No one is being denied tickets at the expense of people from the US who support other teams. There’s one “pot”. It’s an international pot, and all residents of planet Earth are competing for tickets equally.
vic – How do your comments get to “Garber seriously sucks”? What exactly is Garber’s fault? Do you even understand what his job is and what kinds of decisions he does or doesn’t make?
I’m from Houston and had a conversation the other day with a guy who I often see there wearing a Man U shirt. It turned out he was from NYC and I teased him by saying “at least you have a better team to support by moving here.” [Note to RB fans, I don’t want to spark an argument about this–just friendly ribbing to engage what I thought was a fellow soccer fan.] His response was to screw up his face and say he just couldn’t watch MLS, that it wasn’t even the same game. I asked why he said that, and his first response was, “Well, the passion. It’s just not there.” “Really?” I asked. “Have you ever been?” He admitted not, and I was forced to find a polite way of saying he was speaking from complete ignorance. I suggested he make it out to a late season or playoff game when the Dynamo often sell out the stadium and then decide if there is no atmosphere. I like Steve’s quote about atmosphere, wish I’d thought to say it to him.
The point: I agree whole heartedly with those who say that if you can’t support MLS then you’re not real fans of the sport. I suspect if you went to England and asked Millwall fans they’d tell you how all those ManU fans were complete poser wankers. If you really want to help MLS and American soccer, engage these people, talk to them, disagree politely with them, and challenge or better yet invite them to attend a game. I’ve introduced my parents (who are now such fans they’re season ticket holders), and several others to attending the games, and all but one have decided to attend more.
Go out there and proselytize American soccer fans. If every MLS team could draw 20,000 fans imagine how much more money the league could spend on players.
Hell Yeah JB!
I support the US and Colombian national teams, the Red Bulls, FC Barcelona(even before Ronaldhino was there) and Atletico Junior from Barranquilla. We need to support our local teams and watch them grow. Maybe we’d be telling our grandkids how the game grew in the states and all that. mmm, such a sweet thought.
Agreed you can support all. If you CAN’T support MLS as well as your Euro club you’re not really a fan of the sport. Just a fan of frontrunning. “OOH there’s no atmosphere in MLS?” Oh yeah, how’s the atmosphere in your living room when you’re wathcing the Prem on your ‘telly’? Douchbags!
Those poo pooing the safety concern for SA are wearing rose colored glasses. There is crime everywhere in the world. But there is CERTAINLY a higher risk for it in SA. I had a friend lose her life there so I’m sensitive to it but don’t id yourself its more dangerous than a whole lot of place on this planet.
I don’t understand why you can’t support all three–MLS, the national team and your favorite European team? The seasons barely overlap. The games are on at different times. There are international breaks for national team games. But, if you aren’t even interested in the development of the sport in the U.S., then you aren’t really a fan at all, merely a poser looking to borrow the glamour associated with the name from some foreign club.
Vic you’re a sad excuse for a footie fan. I’d rather watch a fast paced, top half MLS tie than rooney jogging behind a potential 85th minute cross that instead rolls past the end line. Support your local MLS club.
Repped in Germany ’06 (Fritz Walter Stadion for Italy v. USA was nuts), and will be in South Africa for ’10.
Barring an act of god (or Heath Pearce), I’ve got my seats on the sidelines for all three US games in SA in ’10. Thank you, Fifa.com!
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tru Jason, but the US Men’s teams isnt hurting financially. Nor is the team hurting in supporters when they play in some interior city. Fault not immigrants, but Americans who wont show for games. When I read that US was leading in ticket sales I also thought: “man, and MLS is all they’ve been able to come up with for a country obviously filled with soccer fanatics? Garber seriously sucks”. Believe me Jason, if there was some kick @ss world-worthy club soccer in their American city of residence to cheer for everyone would show.
Posted by: vic | May 30, 2009 at 02:39 AM
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No way, man, you can NOT just lump the National Team and MLS like that. It’s one thing if you think MLS isn’t good enough for you, but if you turn up your nose at the National Team because they’re “not good enough,” holy crap you really, really suck as a fan, and possibly as an American. The USNT doesn’t, in fact, draw all that well for every game it plays considering the NT coming to your town is pretty rare, and I’d like to hope that’s because there just aren’t that many soccer fans rather that they’re all bandwagoning slime.
I went to South Africa a few years ago and there are areas that are safe but there are a lot of areas that are not. If you do go I would recommend you take peoples advise and avoid certain areas. This of course would be true with most places the World Cup would be in but there some areas in SA that desperation has let to deplorable criminal activity.
While I was there a mall in Durban was robbed by a gang with machine guns. The hotel we stayed in was surrounded by a security fence and had a 24 hour manned security gate and while we were checking in some other guests were filing a police complaint that their luggage had been stolen while they were checking out. While we there the news report an incident of taxi drivers getting in a shoot out to secure taxi business. The transportation business is dominated my taxi vans and the turf is worth fighting for. Locals with any kind of money hire private security firms that advertise they shoot on site.
I went to other areas of the country where we drove for hours through remote and densely populated areas that were safe. Going to Robben Island and seeing where the political prisoners used to play soccer was neat to see. Some of those same men are involved in bringing the World Cup.
If you go learn as much as you can about the history of the country do enjoy the culture and the amazing ecosystem but do be weary and cautious.
I am so there – I have 3 Capetown tickets for the group stage and going for 2 more!!! Germany 02 was great and 94 US was fab. I am addicted.
Am I the only one really hoping that the U.S. is in that opening game against South Africa?
I gotta say………i have AMerican soccer friends who ahve been denied World Cup tickets who have waited 4 years to go and root for the US,….now…. if half of those tickets of 95,000 sold in the US pot is by people who root for other countries…is that fair?? is their anyway we can limit it next time, so all AMerican soccer fans get first dibs?
Busdriver.. I am worried about this one too. Not that South Africa is that bad of a place. It is beautiful there. I’m more worried about outside influence. That being said I would be more cautious if this one were in the states.
Got tickets to all three opening round US games. Great to have friends in the Peace Corps there now and I joined their “resident” application. Now if only I can find a way to pay for the trip.
busdriver, don’t be ignorant. My neighbor (who is also a white guy) just got home from South Africa last week, and he spent two weeks there on vacation and he told me that he never felt like his life was in danger, in fact he loved it. Also Brazil’s crime rate has dropped in recent years, and like one poster stated, unless the games are being played in the favelas, there’s really not much for fans to worry about.
I AM GOING TO SA!!!!!
busdriver –
i spent a few years living in johannesburg south africa. i didn’t live in the wealthy white suburbs but in the inner city. i never once had a problem.
south africans are among the most welcoming and gracious people i have ever been around.
Adam M is right. Unless you decide to stay in a shanty town, join a gang, or transport drugs, you’ll probably leave without incident.
want to say faith not fail …..’ my bAdd
don’t lose fail JL u will be surprised when red bull arena opens up.. A LOT of people from new York don’t come to games to giants stadium cuz one transportation n cuz food drinks are wayy over priced. But in Harrison a lot of people will start showing up, I think a lot of locals to because Harrison loves soccer… It’s gonna b great!!! N btw I wish I could have made it to a u.s game. :/….. Well as a ritual to all red bull games.. Vamosss vamoss metroooo! Esta noche tenemos que ganar.! Might be my last home game for a whileee . So please metro win!
busdriver, unless Brazil’s World Cup games are being played in the favelas (and then, in only a handful of them), and they are not, then you have little to worry about. Not that you will have to worry anyway given the immense security that occurs at any international sporting event these days. And Rio hosted 42 countries in the Pan American Games in 2007 without incident. Bottom line: if you are afraid, don’t go. The games will all sell out anyway.
Why is the World Cup in one of the most dangerous countries in the world? There is no way I would go to Africa for soccer. Brazil is even worse. South Africa and Brazil have the highest murder rates in the world. FIFA got it wrong twice in a row.
so do all you people expect it to magically happen overnight the league almost disappeared then where would we be? Fault not the expats or americans who dont show up fault AMERICAN eurosnobs and latin snobs for not showing up. If the lack of passion is the excuse where do you expect passion and money to come from. MLS fans alone arent enough.
^^^ what vic said.
i mean, look at seattle. they are sold out every game. LA and Toronto have decent attendance. I’ve always thought it all had to do with the franchise’s name. I’m a New Yorker and supporting the Red Bulls is like swallowing bitter remedy to make me feel better about something that’s not really there-passion.
tru Jason, but the US Men’s teams isnt hurting financially. Nor is the team hurting in supporters when they play in some interior city. Fault not immigrants, but Americans who wont show for games. When I read that US was leading in ticket sales I also thought: “man, and MLS is all they’ve been able to come up with for a country obviously filled with soccer fanatics? Garber seriously sucks”. Believe me Jason, if there was some kick @ss world-worthy club soccer in their American city of residence to cheer for everyone would show.
I got my internet application for tickets in at 3:15am and still got iced!
Nice, I’ll be there. Got 2 tix to a game in Johannasburg and 2 to a game in Cape Town. Was going to try and follow the US, but it looks like those tix are impossible; all of my friends who tried for it missed out on it. I was able to get 2 of my 3 requests.
It’s not surprising the US is leading the world in ticket sales. Its just disappointing half of those people are cheering for other national teams over the USA’s.
I wish I could go. It is surprising that the U.S. leads in ticket sales to say the least. I have a good feeling the U.S. will do well this time around. Confederations Cup is going to be the best prep possible for the World Cup. They better take advantage of it.