Fifa 'Regrets' World Cup Ticketing Problems
Review report on 2002 FIFA World Cup ticketing: FIFA regrets problems The FIFA Executive Committee, meeting today under the chairmanship of President Joseph S. Blatter, has taken note of and approved the independent review report on the ticketing for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan(tm).
The President once again reiterated that the 2002 FIFA World Cup* was a resounding success, perfectly organised in fantastic facilities by both LOCs, KOWOC and JAWOC. The incomparable hospitality of the host nations ensured that FIFA's flagship event would be known as the 'World Cup of Smiles'.
Nevertheless, the FIFA Executive Committee acknowledges the findings of the report, which confirmed problems such as the late delivery of tickets and a number of empty seats in the competition's early stages.
At all previous World Cups, the ticketing was the direct responsibility of the LOC. However, for the 2002 FIFA World Cup(tm), responsibility was shared between FIFA and the two LOCs. The Ticketing Committee of world football's governing body, chaired by FIFA Vice-President David Will, worked together with Byrom Plc to coordinate international sales, while the two LOCs took care of sales in their own country.
Due to the popularity of the matches concerned (opening match, the initial group matches featuring the Korean team and the initial matches in Japan), additional tickets could probably have been sold if the tickets had been made available earlier.
The report confirmed that tickets purchased before 1 May 2002 were delivered later than originally envisaged due to a lack of 'detailed definition of the required specification of stadium data in the agreements between FIFA and Byrom and the LOCs' and the fact that 'the Ticketing Management System used by Byrom appears to have required a high level of manual intervention . . . and therefore it appears that the backlog of tasks resulting from the delays in finalising the stadium data could not be handled within the required time frame'.
Although only 0.5% of the seats sold remained empty, the report confirmed the problems that both LOCs encountered at the beginning of the competition. These difficulties were a result of technical problems during data transfer.
The so-called 'Will Call' system (a web-based system for pre-match sales) was inundated with people calling to buy tickets and consequently, there was only limited access and a number of customers were not successful.
Furthermore, it would appear that Byrom did not provide the LOCs with sufficient information regarding available seats, and tickets that had not been sold were delivered too late to KOWOC. JAWOC had requested that this Call system be closed before the respective matchdays and 'as JAWOC had no pre-match sales facility, unsold tickets in the Call system could not be sold'.
The tournament's later stages saw only one specific problem regarding empty seats. At the start of match 55 (Japan vs. Turkey), a central block of seats (500 - 700) remained empty. 'This empty block was apparently the result of an undetected input error by Byrom staff during the process of seat allocation'. The report further states that 'We do not see that this was the responsibility of JAWOC to have detected this error and therefore FIFA's statement in the ensuing exchange of press releases in this respect was based upon incorrect information.'
FIFA regrets the problems experienced by both LOCs. However, all issues relating to the ticketing for the 2002 FIFA World Cup* have now been resolved in a spirit of mutual respect und understanding.
The FIFA Executive Committee had approved President Blatter's initiative to carry out a review report of the ticketing arrangements, conducted by Ernst & Young Ltd. The report can be found on www.fifa.com.
For further information please contact:
Andreas Herren
Fifa Communications
T: +41 1 254 9800
F: +41 1 384 9696
The President once again reiterated that the 2002 FIFA World Cup* was a resounding success, perfectly organised in fantastic facilities by both LOCs, KOWOC and JAWOC. The incomparable hospitality of the host nations ensured that FIFA's flagship event would be known as the 'World Cup of Smiles'.
Nevertheless, the FIFA Executive Committee acknowledges the findings of the report, which confirmed problems such as the late delivery of tickets and a number of empty seats in the competition's early stages.
At all previous World Cups, the ticketing was the direct responsibility of the LOC. However, for the 2002 FIFA World Cup(tm), responsibility was shared between FIFA and the two LOCs. The Ticketing Committee of world football's governing body, chaired by FIFA Vice-President David Will, worked together with Byrom Plc to coordinate international sales, while the two LOCs took care of sales in their own country.
Due to the popularity of the matches concerned (opening match, the initial group matches featuring the Korean team and the initial matches in Japan), additional tickets could probably have been sold if the tickets had been made available earlier.
The report confirmed that tickets purchased before 1 May 2002 were delivered later than originally envisaged due to a lack of 'detailed definition of the required specification of stadium data in the agreements between FIFA and Byrom and the LOCs' and the fact that 'the Ticketing Management System used by Byrom appears to have required a high level of manual intervention . . . and therefore it appears that the backlog of tasks resulting from the delays in finalising the stadium data could not be handled within the required time frame'.
Although only 0.5% of the seats sold remained empty, the report confirmed the problems that both LOCs encountered at the beginning of the competition. These difficulties were a result of technical problems during data transfer.
The so-called 'Will Call' system (a web-based system for pre-match sales) was inundated with people calling to buy tickets and consequently, there was only limited access and a number of customers were not successful.
Furthermore, it would appear that Byrom did not provide the LOCs with sufficient information regarding available seats, and tickets that had not been sold were delivered too late to KOWOC. JAWOC had requested that this Call system be closed before the respective matchdays and 'as JAWOC had no pre-match sales facility, unsold tickets in the Call system could not be sold'.
The tournament's later stages saw only one specific problem regarding empty seats. At the start of match 55 (Japan vs. Turkey), a central block of seats (500 - 700) remained empty. 'This empty block was apparently the result of an undetected input error by Byrom staff during the process of seat allocation'. The report further states that 'We do not see that this was the responsibility of JAWOC to have detected this error and therefore FIFA's statement in the ensuing exchange of press releases in this respect was based upon incorrect information.'
FIFA regrets the problems experienced by both LOCs. However, all issues relating to the ticketing for the 2002 FIFA World Cup* have now been resolved in a spirit of mutual respect und understanding.
The FIFA Executive Committee had approved President Blatter's initiative to carry out a review report of the ticketing arrangements, conducted by Ernst & Young Ltd. The report can be found on www.fifa.com
For further information please contact:
Andreas Herren
Fifa Communications
T: +41 1 254 9800
F: +41 1 384 9696