Scalpers make low $core
By Leiselle Maraj (Newsday)
Monday, June 2 2008
Football fans, disappointed after tickets for the highly anticipated rematch between Trinidad and Tobago and England sold out in less than two days after being issued, were in their glee yesterday as scalpers were out in their numbers prior to the match at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain.
Ticket holders quickly called relatives and friends upon arriving at the venue asking if they were still interested in attending the game. Scalpers were seen along Wrightson Road, near Trinidad Automobiles Ltd, and the Audrey Jeffers Highway opposite MovieTowne, selling tickets for as low as $200 for uncovered stands and $400 for covered stands.
When asked why tickets were priced lower than the original prices of $300 for uncovered and $600 for covered seats, one scalper, who refused to give his name, said his tickets were priced according to sales. “People already have their tickets so hardly anybody buying. Right now I’m just trying to get rid of what I have,” he said at about 3 pm.
Another ticket scalper, who gave his name as Selwyn, said while his tickets were selling reasonably well at two tickets for uncovered seats at $500, other scalpers already lowered their prices so he had no choice but to follow suit. “It depends on where you sell your tickets though,” he said as he opted to ply his trade on the outskirts of the crowd entering the stadium rather than in the thick of things.
Nikita Jackson was one of the many fans who made their way to the stadium hoping for some way to enter the venue. “I was so disappointed when I heard tickets were gone before I even had a chance to call my friends to ask if they were going, now I’m relieved that I got a ticket and glad I did not get through in the first place,” she said after purchasing her ticket at $250 for a seat in the uncovered stands.
Despite the scalpers, the traffic, crowds and parking were kept under control by police officers stationed in and around the stadium. Crowds began arriving when gates opened at 1pm and at about 2.30 pm, most of the free space in the vicinity of the venue was already filled with cars. Vehicles also filled the parking lot at MovieTowne. Parked vehicles, however, did not prove to be an interruption of the smooth flow of traffic around the venue.
Fans were seen congregating at the entrance leading up to the ticket collection area at the stadium, getting their flags, bandannas, hats and other paraphernalia as well as getting their faces airbrushed.
English fans, although few and far between, were not intimidated by the Soca Warriors’ support. A few even had their own limes, setting their coolers on the grassy area opposite the stadium to mix drinks and indulge in some small talk before entering the stadium.
The Green Park at the left of MovieTowne was another “English friendly” area. Tents were erected and despite the sounds of soca coming from large speakers, large national flags of England were mounted between tent poles, offering refuge in the sea of white converging on the stadium.
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