Netball: Seats to finals offered

By Richard Boock

Netball fans can still buy a ticket to the final of the World Championships, and for not much more than the price of an arm or a leg.

A bundle of tickets released for sale at a cool $300 yesterday represented the last chance for supporters to buy seats for the October 2 showpiece in Christchurch.

The tickets, which became available after the return of some international packages, will provide access to the last three days of the tournament as well as the final, and as such represented good value for money according to organisers.

Only a fortnight out from the start of the tournament, WNC media manager Dave Worsely said interest was building and opportunities to attend the final and play-offs were rare and not expected to last long.

"We're very comfortable with the price of this last allocation because the tickets provide access to the quarter-finals, the semi-finals and the final," he said. "Each day includes eight tests [for a total of 24 games] and features [likely finalists] the Silver Ferns and Australia, as well as outside chances Jamaica, South Africa and England.

"Compared to ticket prices for the up-and-coming Rugby World Cup, the WNC tickets are very economical. You'd pay $US250 minimum to watch the All Blacks play a pool match."

Nine and 12-day packages are still available, while day tickets for the first nine days of the tournament range in cost (for an adult) between $15 (for the preliminary round) to $75 for the opening day.

Worsely said ticket sales had been steady over the past fortnight and should increase with planned promotions, despite the withdrawal of one of the initial 28 competing nations.

Pakistan officially confirmed their withdrawal yesterday, reducing the championship to a record-equalling 27 teams - and 126 games of test match netball over a period of 12 days.

The fledgling IFNA members only joined the world body last year and apparently found the logistics of competing this year unworkable, Worsely said.

There was no indication costs had forced the newcomers out, though India have withdrawn because of a priority on development, and Australia have delayed their arrival in New Zealand by a day in order to reduce expenses.

Netball Australia executive director Pam Smith yesterday distanced herself from criticisms of the daily charge of $120 per player and explained that her organisation was merely concerned with being frugal.

"We have to watch our money," Smith told reporters. "We find that $120 a day is more than we would normally allocate, but there's no criticism of the charge. It's just that, as a netball organisation, every penny has to be counted."