Jakarta gears up for Euro 2000<\/p>\n
Soccer fans everywhere are digging in for the long haul of
\nEuro 2000. Businesses in Jakarta and other major cities in the
\ncountry are also sizing up opportunities to score rich profits
\nduring four weeks promising excitement, shattered dreams and
\nsleepless nights.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Millions set up camp in front of their
\ntelevision sets at 11:45 p.m. Jakarta time on Saturday.<\/p>\n
After the opening ceremony and the whistle blew for the match
\nbetween host Belgium and Sweden, Euro 2000 mania officially took
\nhold.<\/p>\n
The winnings will not only be on the field. Businesses know
\nthat soccer, arguably the world's most popular sport, is a
\npotential gold mine.<\/p>\n
The world's attention will be focused on the Netherlands and
\nBelgium, the venues for the event, from June 10 to July 2, with
\ntelevision broadcasts bringing the games into living rooms from
\nLondon to Lahore.<\/p>\n
Major private TV stations RCTI and SCTV will relay the 31
\nhottest matches to the far corners of the archipelago. Print
\nmedia are preparing to fill their pages with news, photos and
\nscores.<\/p>\n
RCTI sports producer Irwan Hendarmin said the TV stations
\nshared the US$300,000 TV rights to air all the matches. The
\nrights and high production costs have been covered by sponsors,
\nbut Irwan declined to mention the figure.<\/p>\n
Off-air activities are being organized by RCTI in Surabaya,
\nMalang and Bandung in the launching of the Euro 2000 mania
\nprogram. It has also issued a guidebook for the event.<\/p>\n
Kompas morning daily, Bola and Media GO sports tabloids have
\nissued their own guides, with team and player profiles, plus
\npredictions of results.<\/p>\n
Cafes and hotels are putting on special events in the hope of
\nbringing in soccer-loving patrons.<\/p>\n
Le Meridien in Central Jakarta is prepared to set out TV tray
\ndinners for guests to munch on during the games; the Corner Kick,
\nfor instance, consists of fish fingers, french fries and beer (Rp
\n55,000). A giant screen TV will grace Le Rendevouz bar during the
\nsemifinals and the final.<\/p>\n
Other hotels are also giving their fans an eyeful of the
\naction.<\/p>\n
Hotel Mulia will have a giant screen TV in De Cafe coffee shop
\nfrom June 11, and the Hotel Borobudur from June 12. Viewers can
\nquench their thirst with the buy-one-get-one-free promotion at
\nthe latter hotel.<\/p>\n
Nonton bareng (watching the games together) is a relatively
\nnew phenomenon here.<\/p>\n
Public relations officer of Champions Sports Bar Restaurant
\nYuki Hidayat said the Kemang, South Jakarta bar debuted the
\nprogram for the 1996 Euro Cup, and continued it for the 1998
\nWorld Cup.<\/p>\n
\"The enthusiasm was extraordinary, especially in 1998.
\nIndonesia was still in chaos after the May riots, but the number
\nof visitors was not influenced by the incident. About 1,000
\nvisitors came every night and it was really crowded. Even when we
\nwarned them that we were already full, they didn't care.\"<\/p>\n
Champion's is offering a special late happy hour from 1 a.m.
\nto 3 a.m. with a 30 percent discount on food and beverages.<\/p>\n
It also has score guessing games, a Euro pool game and table
\nsoccer. There will be best supporter and best dressed contests.<\/p>\n
Project P comedy group and master of ceremonies Edwin and Jody
\nwill entertain at the opening ceremony.<\/p>\n
\"People may want to watch the games at home, but there may be
\nsome who prefer to come here, perhaps because they are looking
\nfor a more entertaining atmosphere to keep them awake,\" Yuki
\nsaid. The bar will close at 5 a.m.<\/p>\n
The program and entertainment manager of Newscafe in Kemang,
\nSouth Jakarta, Rizal Ahmad, said the cafe was cooperating with
\nBola to attract patrons to watch the matches on a giant screen,
\nwhich he claimed was the biggest in town.<\/p>\n
\"We don't want to be left behind in the Euro 2000 fiesta.\"<\/p>\n
Coupons from the Friday edition of Bola entitle the bearer to
\na free soft drink.<\/p>\n
\"We'll provide commentators for every match. One of them is
\nactor Rano Karno (star of Si Doel TV series). We don't want to
\nhave a serious atmosphere here.\"<\/p>\n
The cafe, which can accommodate 300, is also offering door
\nprizes and quizzes.<\/p>\n
Rizal said the cafe would offer a light meal menu because many
\nmatches started at 11 p.m. He promised prices during the matches
\nwould be lower than usual.<\/p>\n
\"We don't put a minimum limit on their purchases. Everybody
\nshould feel free to watch the games here all night long, even if
\nthey only buy one glass of Coke. They will also be entertained by
\nlocal music groups.\"<\/p>\n
Cafe Lamborghini and Front Row Sports Grill in Taman Ria
\nSenayan, Central Jakarta, have become known for holding special
\nevents in tandem with sports extravaganzas.<\/p>\n
Cafe Lamborghini host receptionist Dewi Mayasari said nonton
\nbareng was a fixture at the cafe, usually for auto racing.<\/p>\n
\"Our regular performer Papi band will entertain our guests
\nduring the opening and closing ceremonies of Euro 2000. Our cafe
\nis open until dawn to serve soccer fans.\"<\/p>\n
The cafe, which can accommodate 200 sitting guests and an
\nadditional 100 standing guests, has two cover charges: Rp 10,000,
\nincluding a soft drink, and Rp 20,000 inclusive of a draught
\nbeer. Group reservations are recommended.<\/p>\n
Front Row Sports Grill associate general manager Bobby
\nTambayong said the restaurant would offer a special late night
\nmenu because some matches were scheduled to end about 4 a.m.<\/p>\n
\"We are offering special drinks with unique names, like Orange
\nBuck which has colors similar to the Dutch flag, Balkan Lemonade
\nwhich tastes like Balkan liquor with extra vodka, and the Italian
\nStallion.\" The special drink list also includes nonalcoholic
\nbeverages.<\/p>\n
Front Row -- which staged a similar program for the 1998 World
\nCup -- will organize quizzes with prizes of T-shirts and caps.<\/p>\n
There is a catch. Front Row will require customers to spend a
\nminimum of Rp 35,000 during the first round of Euro 2000,
\nRp 50,000 in the quarterfinals and Rp 75,000 during the final.<\/p>\n
\"We want to select our guests through this restriction. We
\nwant them to come here to eat, drink and watch, and not only do
\nthe latter,\" said Bobby. (ivy\/yan\/sim)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-gears-up-for-euro-2000-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}