Socceroos fans & World Cup Price Hikes

With less than a 100 days to go this Article online in Melbourne's Herald Sun really stung. heraldsun.com.au Aussies Stung by Football World Cup Price Hikes here is the link.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/travel/news/aussies-stung-by-football-world-cup-price-hikes/story-fn32891l-1225843664435

I can understand the anger so I wrote the response below.It's a tough call to choose what to market to soccer fans & South Africa can be a tricky destination for many operators. So I tried to be nice but in essence we thought camping in Autumn was a youth product and what about rain, security & showers etc. A weekend at Meridith or the Falls Festival with a bit of rain is enough and you are only a days drive max from a shower, a sleep & a big feed at home. The other issue was Jo'burgs reputation was too scary for us even though it seemed like a cool place Aussies South Africans said otherwise. Anyway this is how it went.

A Travel Company Perspective: At SportsnetHolidays.com we are also an official participating tour operator for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa selling tours with Tickets & Hotel Packages. We have sold out one tour & are doing well in a second tour. We took 2 years to plan our World Cup packages & after visiting South Africa in Autumn chose against camping. We also believe Australians who have gone all the way to Africa should see Vic Falls, go to Kruger & Climb Table mountain. We figured it was better to pay & organise this before you left, but this made our offer more expensive. All our packages are hotel only as a week in tents if it rains with no place to leave your passport, tickets, ipods etc can be along time. Sportsnet focused on offering a range of African tours for fans that have gone all the way to South Africa & to back that up by offering a Cape Town Accommodation only option for fans that have their own tickets.

Socceroos World Cup South Africa

Every time there is another Socceroos game the World Cup buzz lingers for days. Two good bits to look at on BBC Africa. The first one is the African experience of trying to by world cup tickets. It took Sportsnet Holidays over a year to get World Cup tickets & World Cup Tour accreditation and corporate hospitality rights and we had a heap of experience in Africa. The process was tough but fair. You have to feel for those guys, even if we moan it makes you feel lucky we have such good systems in Australia. The other good one is a Soccer Fans Guide to Cape Town a great city which will be packed with Socceroos fans. Looking forward to the Socceroos vs the Kiwis at the G. Remember the last World Cup send off match, for those of not going it should be a great atmosphere.

World Cup Tickets South Africa 2010

World Cup tickets, its taken a few years of hard work but Sportsnet holidays have been appionted by MATCH as an official agent in Australia and New Zealand for the hospitality program. For those that can afford it the four offers are sensational.

The main thing for corporate organisations & other potential clients will be the organisational lead time required with Pakistan here playing cricket we are still firmly in a summer mode of thinking. Take a look at what is on the Sportsnet website site, MATCH have certainly done a great job with the offering.

World Cup Travel Official Hospitality Programme
Sportsnet authorised agent of MATCH World Cup Hospitality in Australia & New Zealand for the sale of the Official Hospitality Programme Catagory One World Cup Tickets for the every 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Match.

There are 4 types of hospitality options available:
The FIFA Business Seat
The Suite Hospitality Experience
The Match 2010
The Match Pavillion


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE FIFA BUSINESS SEAT
The FIFA BUSINESS SEAT Programme features the best available Category 1 match tickets combined with hospitality services provided in outside temporary facilities within stadium perimeters. The FIFA BUSINESS SEAT is a great way of enjoying the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ with a perfect mix of hospitality services coupled with the shared excitement of the football in the stands.

Services in Overview:
•Best available Category 1 match ticket
•Shared hospitality experience with a casual ambiance in outside temporary facilities within
stadium perimeters
•Buffet catering before and after the match and bar service
•Casual décor
•Hostess services
•Parking facilities
•Access to MATCH Hospitality Domestic
•Travel Services