Fans a no show at Oval
The Hewitt & Inniss Stand was one of two stands closed. Ticket prices were advertised for both stands before the match.
By Justin Marville | Sun, June 27, 2010 - 12:00 AM
THE MECCA or the morgue?
There wasn’t much of a difference between the two for the seven hours West Indies and South Africa undertook yesterday’s opening day of the third cricket test match at Kensington Oval.
It brought the few mournful West Indian fans close to tears.
Thousands of empty seats around the ground told the tale of West Indies cricket, at a place renowned for attracting enthusiastic and knowledgeable fans drawn by its rich history and carnival-like ambience.
Even with scores of Scotia Bank Kiddy cricketers present, Kensington’s numbers barely breached four figures by the post-lunch session while both the Hall & Griffith and Mitchie Hewitt stands were notably closed to spectators for the first time in Test cricket. Tickets for those stands weren’t even sold.
Critics of Test cricket certainly noted that these vacant seats weren’t in existence six weeks ago for any of the nine matches during the Barbados leg of the ICC World Twenty20.
“It’s been going for some time now,” remarked celebrated cricket journalist Tony Cozier, who has been watching Test cricket at the Oval since 1948.
Several clearly stood home to catch the two World Cup second-round fixtures. Already despondent with the Windies’ woes.
Others have been turned back by what they deem as “steep” ticket prices, which average around $50 as opposed to May’s Twenty20 tournament, which was some $20 cheaper.
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ok….here goes!!!1
The cost of tickets is an issue.
The value is not there, the W.I team is terrible.
The match was not marketed effectively.
The Board/selectors are making terrible errors in selecting players.
The Captaincy needs to be taken away from Gayle…Let him go and play 20/20 in India.
World cup soccer competition.
The Barbados/regional economy.
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Comment LinkMoney and time tight and I cant pay to watch foolishness!
I would prefer to watch molasses run up a hill.
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Comment LinkWe could have better spent our CWC 2007 money on building our infrastructure. For example, we could be increasing trade and commerce between the islands (better roads, telecommunications, clean reliable water, ferry system, etc) which can lead to more jobs. The only jobs that benefited from the CWC were for the Winlessdies team and supporting cast of administrators. Even if we were winning, do we really believe we could fill Kensington in 2010 for a Test match. The West Indian mind set of players and spectators of the 1970s and 1980s is not the same mind set of 2010.
Solution: Shut down WI as a Test playing nation for at least 5 years; join the ranks of Holland, Canada etc. Build the talent. The relegation system as per English football can come no sooner.
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Comment LinkMessage has been sent!.....well done, fans!
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Comment LinkThe problem is Barbados/Caribbean needs to learn how to promote events. Big test match and no incentive to attract people to the game. Reduce prices if need be have some seats at special rates for school children/students/pensioners etc. Stop thinking of short term profits look long term. do not blame the football either true cricket fans will go to cricket if they can afford to, with technology can still keep up to date with the football score. common sense should dictate Barbados is still in recession. reduce some of the prices and please employ some decent people who can promote the game of cricket.
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Comment LinkOnly intoxicated or brain dead promoters would expect people to bay big bucks in these hard times to watch dead cricket in preference to a good free serving of world cup soccer. Besides, thinking and timing must go hand in hand.
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