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Get to South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
If you’re one of the expected 300,000 to 500,000 football fans flocking to South Africa for the FIFA World Cup 2010, don’t think you can just hop on a plane and go. Football fans are notoriously crazy about attending football matches (cue The White Stripes "Seven Nation Army" which has become the de facto football cheer.) You really need to start planning now.
Tickets
Tickets for the FIFA World Cup 2010 finals will go on sale on the FIFA website, starting February 20. One million out of the three million total tournament tickets available will go to international visitors – the other two million go to sponsors, teams and South African fans. Tickets are expected to cost about $136USD a piece but can vary from anything from $80 to $900, depending on which of the 64 matches tickles your fancy and how close you want to be to the action.
If you’re reading this is May 2010 and the tickets are all sold out, you can still hop on a last-minute plane over there – giant screens in public areas will be set up, and pubs, restaurants and bars are shelling out big-time on mega-size TVs ready to keep the neighbours up all night.
Tags: World Cup Travel / South Africa Travel / Sports Travel / → All Tags
How Prepared is South Africa for FIFA World Cup 2010?
When the South Africans found out they’d be hosting the FIFA World Cup 2010, their reaction was probably like that of the Brits when they won the 2012 Olympics bid. Unbridled joy, heavy drinking and crazed celebrations until the helium balloons in everyone’s heads went flat and someone said, "Uh...what do we do now?"
Damn, South Africa badly needs this crazy football competition. They’re expecting upwards of 500,000 fans to flock into the country, waving their dollars and euros and tacking on a safari or two while they’re there. The Grant Thornton consulting firm have told the government they can expect a 55.7 billion rand ($5.42 billion) boost on their GDP for 2010 and the authorities are already sticking out their tongues to lap it up.
But damn, damn, damn, we just hope South Africa can pull the rabbit out of the hat next June. Here's what might harm their chances of making magic happen.
