The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has announced a profit of $1,629,077 from the December 2 FIFA 2015 Women’s World Cup Play Off contest between the “Women Soca Warriors” and Ecuador at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain.
The TTFA set ticket prices at TT$200 (covered stands) and TT$100 (uncovered stands) for the affair, which was a record for a women’s match. But, despite some initial criticism, there was a final attendance of 20,071 at the venue, which can seat a maximum of 22,000 persons.
According to the TTFA’s financial statement for the match, which was the first one given to the media in two years under current football president Raymond Tim Kee, the football body sold 3,381 of a possible 6,000 tickets for the covered stands while another 11,309 tickets were sold for uncovered from a possible 16,000.
The TTFA gave away 3,881 complimentary tickets while there were 851 group tickets sold. Six hundred and fifty one patrons were said to have entered an unmanned gate without ticket scanner verification.
There was no figure for the number of children’s tickets given out for uncovered stands, which were free.
The football body declared revenue from ticket sales of TT$1,975,180. A full stadium without complimentary tickets, at the prices set for the decisive women’s match, could have grossed a possible TT$2.8 million.
The TTFA also declared income from perimeter boards (TT$56,000), merchandise (TT$15,160), broadcast (TT$15,000) and sport tourism (TT$100,000). There was no explanation as to how the football body received money from “sport tourism.”
In the expenditure column, match fees and stipend for the still unpaid women’s team was given as TT$238,080 while the next biggest line items were $115,133 for security and safety and TT$50,433 for the printing and scanning of match tickets.
Incidentally, the perimeter boards were written as expense too at a cost of TT$35,300, which suggested that the TTFA made a net profit of just TT$20,700 from the billboards. (See below for full breakdown of expenses provided by the TTFA).
TTFA Press Statement:
The FIFA Intercontinental Playoff Match featuring Trinidad and Tobago vs Ecuador was a resounding success in that it brought together various stakeholders to create a memorable outing for all who participated.
The TTFA was successful in establishing partnerships with the Ministry of Sport and The Sports Company to provide resources and support for the women’s national team, including a 7 day camp, full technical staff, pre-camp strength and conditioning program, transportation services, unfettered access to the national stadium, and medical support.
Other state stakeholders included the National Operations Centre, Ministry of National Security, Tourism Development Company, PTSC, CNMG, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Office of the Prime Minister.
Among the commercial partners who served vital roles were; Lifestyle Motors, Gatorade, Blue Waters, Miscellaneous Marketing, DirecTV, Toyota of Trinidad and Tobago, First Citizens Bank, Trotters, All Out, Kenny’s Sports, The Fan Club, Econo Mart, Heritage Sports of Tobago, Ramsinghs Sports, Sportway, socawarriors.net, 105 fm, 102 fm, Talk City 91.1, and i95.5 FM.
In many ways, the match was a celebration of the growth and development of not only women’s football but also the progress made by the TTFA over the last two years, T&T football’s road back to national and international relevance would not have been possible without the support of the football family of Trinidad and Tobago beginning with the office staff of the TTFA, Regional Associations, members of the TTFA Executive Committee, Local Organizing Committee, various local, regional, and national leagues, and of course, the people whom the TTFA work tirelessly to support; the coaches and players of our national team programs, especially our Women Soca Warriors.
Most of all, the TTFA would like to thank our faithful and most loyal supporters as well as new fans of women’s football who all showed up as the 12th Warrior; THANK YOU.
This is just the beginning of a new era for women’s football. The TTFA is committed to applying a significant part of the earnings from this event towards the development of women’s football. Specific details on our plans will be relayed in due course once we have completed discussions with relevant technical personnel and approved by the TTFA Executive Committee.
The TTFA is excited at the prospects.
TTFA Income and Expenditure Statement:
(Income)
Ticket Sales: $1,975,180
Perimeter Boards: $56,000
Broadcast: $15,000
Sports Tourism: $100,000
Merchandise: $15,160
Total Income: $2,161,340
(Expenditure)
Advertising-Signboards and Perimeter boards: $35,300
Airfare-Player: $3,347
Ambulance and medical services: $6,980
Catering-Team training: $24,707
Catering-Match Officials: $10,169
Group Accident Insurance: $2,660
Gate Attendant services: $1,500
Hotel Accommodation-FIFA Referees: $30,000
Match fees and stipend-TT Women’s team: $238,080
Motor Vehicle Rental: $3,105
Printing and Scanning-Match Tickets: $50,433
Security and Safety: $115,133
Sound System: $5,000
Uniforms (Polo and T-Shirts for Staff and Ball Kids): $5,200
Tokens: $650
Total Expenses: $532,264
NET SURPLUS/ (DEFICIT): $1,629,077