Random Thoughts - Part III The Search for Spark (No Politics)

[ichitaka05]

Anyone watching World Cup?

Netherlands vs Japan gonna start! It’s very low low percent Japan winning, but I’ll be cheering em!

[p1l0t]

Scotland and USA were both dogs and pulled it off..

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[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Anyone watching World Cup?

Netherlands vs Japan gonna start! It’s very low low percent Japan winning, but I’ll be cheering em!

I'll throw in a cheer for Japan and will at least watch the highlights.

The US domination in their first game surprised me a bit. It will be interesting to see how the rest of their Group round goes.

The WC is tainted for me by FIFA shenanigans though. I live literally less than 30 minutes from "Atlanta Stadium" and would love to go to a game, any game. Problem is FIFA priced the tickets beyond reasonable for me. The best price/worst seat for any game in Atlanta was over $300 a ticket, and that was only one game (Congo vs Uzbekistan). All other group matches are over $400 a seat. And don't even get me started on the knockout rounds and semifinals.

For the price of the worst seat in a semi-final round, I'll get two seasons of both ATL United and the upcoming women's team.

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

I'll throw in a cheer for Japan and will at least watch the highlights.

The US domination in their first game surprised me a bit. It will be interesting to see how the rest of their Group round goes.

The WC is tainted for me by FIFA shenanigans though. I live literally less than 30 minutes from "Atlanta Stadium" and would love to go to a game, any game. Problem is FIFA priced the tickets beyond reasonable for me. The best price/worst seat for any game in Atlanta was over $300 a ticket, and that was only one game (Congo vs Uzbekistan). All other group matches are over $400 a seat. And don't even get me started on the knockout rounds and semifinals.

For the price of the worst seat in a semi-final round, I'll get two seasons of both ATL United and the upcoming women's team.

I agree. Ticket prices are ridiculous!

Me & my wife bought the quarter final match ticket. It was $1,250/each! It’s a once in a lifetime event plus we used CC points to get free hotel. Flight, I have Delta Amex Platinum, so got companion pass, so I only need to buy 1 plane ticket. So total was fraction more than $3k. In that view, that’s not bad.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

I agree. Ticket prices are ridiculous!

Me & my wife bought the quarter final match ticket. It was $1,250/each! It’s a once in a lifetime event plus we used CC points to get free hotel. Flight, I have Delta Amex Platinum, so got companion pass, so I only need to buy 1 plane ticket. So total was fraction more than $3k. In that view, that’s not bad.

You got a good deal. By the time my lottery spot came up, the tickets for quarter finals in ATL were over $4K per seat on L3! Mind you, there isn't a bad seat in Mercedes Benz Stadium so L3 would have been OK. As an ATL United season ticket holder and a USMNT supporter I also had a chance to buy "discounted" tickets on L2, but the discount was only about 5%.

Also, I couldn't go to a game without buying minimum 4 tickets (my 3 sons and I go to all the ATL United games) so we are talking used car money here. It's not like I couldn't afford it, but we'll just enjoy the games on TV.

Ultimately, it's a business and they can charge what they want and that someone will pay. It just won't be me.

Same thing with the 1996 Olympics. Couldn't get tickets at a reasonable price, and frankly have zero regrets about not going.

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

You got a good deal. By the time my lottery spot came up, the tickets for quarter finals in ATL were over $4K per seat on L3! Mind you, there isn't a bad seat in Mercedes Benz Stadium so L3 would have been OK. As an ATL United season ticket holder and a USMNT supporter I also had a chance to buy "discounted" tickets on L2, but the discount was only about 5%.

Also, I couldn't go to a game without buying minimum 4 tickets (my 3 sons and I go to all the ATL United games) so we are talking used car money here. It's not like I couldn't afford it, but we'll just enjoy the games on TV.

Ultimately, it's a business and they can charge what they want and that someone will pay. It just won't be me.

Same thing with the 1996 Olympics. Couldn't get tickets at a reasonable price, and frankly have zero regrets about not going.

$4k/ticket? God damn! That’s ridiculous!

Lucky is my buddy. He got a free ticket to Portugal vs Congo. He got like 4 tickets too! I’m like WTF?!?!?!

Also found out my wife won ticket to see Bosnian practice. I guess Bosnian home ground in US is middle-of-nowhere. So I’ll be seeing em tomorrow.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

$4k/ticket? God damn! That’s ridiculous!

Sadly, I don't know anyone to get gifted tickets, so I'll be watching on TV.

This is the currently available FIFA tickets (not resale) for the Semi-Final in ATL. All available seats (there are about 100) are in midway up the lower level but behind the goal at the corner flag on the "away" side of the field.

[DarkPira7e]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Sadly, I don't know anyone to get gifted tickets, so I'll be watching on TV.

This is the currently available FIFA tickets (not resale) for the Semi-Final in ATL. All available seats (there are about 100) are in midway up the lower level but behind the goal at the corner flag on the "away" side of the field.

Imagine wanting to attract crowds of people to watch the sport you govern with prices like this.
How is this even a thing...? Going to watch a game should not be a once in a lifetime adventure for people because of cost

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by DarkPira7e

Imagine wanting to attract crowds of people to watch the sport you govern with prices like this.
How is this even a thing...? Going to watch a game should not be a once in a lifetime adventure for people because of cost

Well FIFA is all about the money (Federation Interested in Financial Accumulation).

FIFA nets about $1B off of each World Cup four year cycle. They also pay only a small percentage of the workers. Most are paid by contractors, the stadiums (which FIFA doesn't pay to use) and the like. In the US they are also using 40,000 volunteers that receive a uniform, a meal pass, and maybe transit costs.

It's like every big event anymore, a good percentage of tickets are sold to corporations and sponsors (about 34% for World Cup).

Don't get me wrong I think it's a great event for the sport, and way more people watch it or listen to it for free or almost free than pay to attend.

While I'm on my soapbox, I also wish it wasn't just a once every four year event. If it were mine to run it would be more like league play. Let's face it, while the players on the teams are the best in the world (or close) they are not the best teams in the world. That's the Club World Cup, well until recently when FIFA changed it from annual to every four years to maximize it's profits as well.

[blsfrs]

It would be difficult for the players to have to play a world cup every year in addition to league play.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by blsfrs

It would be difficult for the players to have to play a world cup every year in addition to league play.

Oh I agree. I was more thinking of the national teams being actual full-time league, not pick up games every four years. Just my opinion.

[spcmafia]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Well FIFA is all about the money (Federation Interested in Financial Accumulation).

FIFA nets about $1B off of each World Cup four year cycle. They also pay only a small percentage of the workers. Most are paid by contractors, the stadiums (which FIFA doesn't pay to use) and the like. In the US they are also using 40,000 volunteers that receive a uniform, a meal pass, and maybe transit costs.

It's like every big event anymore, a good percentage of tickets are sold to corporations and sponsors (about 34% for World Cup).

Don't get me wrong I think it's a great event for the sport, and way more people watch it or listen to it for free or almost free than pay to attend.

While I'm on my soapbox, I also wish it wasn't just a once every four year event. If it were mine to run it would be more like league play. Let's face it, while the players on the teams are the best in the world (or close) they are not the best teams in the world. That's the Club World Cup, well until recently when FIFA changed it from annual to every four years to maximize it's profits as well.

Technically they do play full time. Whenever not on WC qualifying mode, the national federations start picking their players and hold either friendlies or we have continent tournaments like Copa Oro (Americas and a few Europe teams) Eurocup (Europe Teams) Nations League, Olympics, etc.

Is kind of cumbersome for team clubs because players often get overloaded and tend to injure themselves playing these friendlies or seasonal cups.

All players in the World Cup belong to their clubs and often are not paid by their national federations unless they place high up or win the tournament.

You do tend to miss a lot of really, really great players in the world cup because their national team is too weak overall and some federations only get so many spots to claim a WC ticket during qualifiers.

[Sapphireho]

Love Triumph.

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/62ahpvg468s

[JD001]

Originally Posted by ichitaka05

Anyone watching World Cup?

Netherlands vs Japan gonna start! It’s very low low percent Japan winning, but I’ll be cheering em!

I'm a great fan of both the World and European Cup.. The time difference is making it very difficult to follow...

However, have set-up a mini league on the FIFA app.. some friends and work colleagues have joined so making it fun even if we can't follow the game live!