Jakarta gears up for Euro 2000
Jakarta gears up for Euro 2000
Soccer fans everywhere are digging in for the long haul of
Euro 2000. Businesses in Jakarta and other major cities in the
country are also sizing up opportunities to score rich profits
during four weeks promising excitement, shattered dreams and
sleepless nights.
JAKARTA (JP): Millions set up camp in front of their
television sets at 11:45 p.m. Jakarta time on Saturday.
After the opening ceremony and the whistle blew for the match
between host Belgium and Sweden, Euro 2000 mania officially took
hold.
The winnings will not only be on the field. Businesses know
that soccer, arguably the world's most popular sport, is a
potential gold mine.
The world's attention will be focused on the Netherlands and
Belgium, the venues for the event, from June 10 to July 2, with
television broadcasts bringing the games into living rooms from
London to Lahore.
Major private TV stations RCTI and SCTV will relay the 31
hottest matches to the far corners of the archipelago. Print
media are preparing to fill their pages with news, photos and
scores.
RCTI sports producer Irwan Hendarmin said the TV stations
shared the US$300,000 TV rights to air all the matches. The
rights and high production costs have been covered by sponsors,
but Irwan declined to mention the figure.
Off-air activities are being organized by RCTI in Surabaya,
Malang and Bandung in the launching of the Euro 2000 mania
program. It has also issued a guidebook for the event.
Kompas morning daily, Bola and Media GO sports tabloids have
issued their own guides, with team and player profiles, plus
predictions of results.
Cafes and hotels are putting on special events in the hope of
bringing in soccer-loving patrons.
Le Meridien in Central Jakarta is prepared to set out TV tray
dinners for guests to munch on during the games; the Corner Kick,
for instance, consists of fish fingers, french fries and beer (Rp
55,000). A giant screen TV will grace Le Rendevouz bar during the
semifinals and the final.
Other hotels are also giving their fans an eyeful of the
action.
Hotel Mulia will have a giant screen TV in De Cafe coffee shop
from June 11, and the Hotel Borobudur from June 12. Viewers can
quench their thirst with the buy-one-get-one-free promotion at
the latter hotel.
Nonton bareng (watching the games together) is a relatively
new phenomenon here.
Public relations officer of Champions Sports Bar Restaurant
Yuki Hidayat said the Kemang, South Jakarta bar debuted the
program for the 1996 Euro Cup, and continued it for the 1998
World Cup.
"The enthusiasm was extraordinary, especially in 1998.
Indonesia was still in chaos after the May riots, but the number
of visitors was not influenced by the incident. About 1,000
visitors came every night and it was really crowded. Even when we
warned them that we were already full, they didn't care."
Champion's is offering a special late happy hour from 1 a.m.
to 3 a.m. with a 30 percent discount on food and beverages.
It also has score guessing games, a Euro pool game and table
soccer. There will be best supporter and best dressed contests.
Project P comedy group and master of ceremonies Edwin and Jody
will entertain at the opening ceremony.
"People may want to watch the games at home, but there may be
some who prefer to come here, perhaps because they are looking
for a more entertaining atmosphere to keep them awake," Yuki
said. The bar will close at 5 a.m.
The program and entertainment manager of Newscafe in Kemang,
South Jakarta, Rizal Ahmad, said the cafe was cooperating with
Bola to attract patrons to watch the matches on a giant screen,
which he claimed was the biggest in town.
"We don't want to be left behind in the Euro 2000 fiesta."
Coupons from the Friday edition of Bola entitle the bearer to
a free soft drink.
"We'll provide commentators for every match. One of them is
actor Rano Karno (star of Si Doel TV series). We don't want to
have a serious atmosphere here."
The cafe, which can accommodate 300, is also offering door
prizes and quizzes.
Rizal said the cafe would offer a light meal menu because many
matches started at 11 p.m. He promised prices during the matches
would be lower than usual.
"We don't put a minimum limit on their purchases. Everybody
should feel free to watch the games here all night long, even if
they only buy one glass of Coke. They will also be entertained by
local music groups."
Cafe Lamborghini and Front Row Sports Grill in Taman Ria
Senayan, Central Jakarta, have become known for holding special
events in tandem with sports extravaganzas.
Cafe Lamborghini host receptionist Dewi Mayasari said nonton
bareng was a fixture at the cafe, usually for auto racing.
"Our regular performer Papi band will entertain our guests
during the opening and closing ceremonies of Euro 2000. Our cafe
is open until dawn to serve soccer fans."
The cafe, which can accommodate 200 sitting guests and an
additional 100 standing guests, has two cover charges: Rp 10,000,
including a soft drink, and Rp 20,000 inclusive of a draught
beer. Group reservations are recommended.
Front Row Sports Grill associate general manager Bobby
Tambayong said the restaurant would offer a special late night
menu because some matches were scheduled to end about 4 a.m.
"We are offering special drinks with unique names, like Orange
Buck which has colors similar to the Dutch flag, Balkan Lemonade
which tastes like Balkan liquor with extra vodka, and the Italian
Stallion." The special drink list also includes nonalcoholic
beverages.
Front Row -- which staged a similar program for the 1998 World
Cup -- will organize quizzes with prizes of T-shirts and caps.
There is a catch. Front Row will require customers to spend a
minimum of Rp 35,000 during the first round of Euro 2000,
Rp 50,000 in the quarterfinals and Rp 75,000 during the final.
"We want to select our guests through this restriction. We
want them to come here to eat, drink and watch, and not only do
the latter," said Bobby. (ivy/yan/sim)