Lower ticket prices would surely attrack spectators

Lower ticket prices would surely attrack spectators

Indonesia is hosting the Thomas and Uber Cup badminton team
championships for the sixth time since the competition was staged
in 1949. Despite the lofty ambition of the Badminton Association
of Indonesia (PBSI) to create history by retaining the Thomas Cup
for the sixth consecutive time, or 14 times in total, the
competition has lacked spectators and promotion. The Jakarta Post
talked to some people about the issue.

Ronny, 21, is a student of the school of industrial
engineering at Trisakti University, Grogol, West Jakarta. He
lives with his parents and sister in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta:

I'm not really into badminton, but I do watch the Thomas and
Uber Cup matches occasionally on television, especially when my
mother wants to watch it. She's the real badminton fan in our
family.

She recalled how hectic it was when the championships were
held in Jakarta. The stadium was packed -- the whole nation was
watching, she recalled.

My mother, like other teenage girls at the time, particularly
admired former world champion Liem Swie King. She said she even
got hives while watching him nearly lose a match.

But today, I don't think people are enthusiastic anymore.
Maybe it's because Indonesia's performance in sports has been
declining. We can't claim ourselves to be "numero uno" anymore. I
saw yesterday how our Uber Cup team was thrashed by China in the
opening group match.

It's really sad. Badminton brought Indonesia sporting glory on
the international stage. We need to do something to revive our
excellence and fanaticism in badminton before it's too late.

Hendri Satrio, 26, works as a media relations officer at a
foreign non-governmental organization. He lives with his wife in
Tambun, East Bekasi:

I hope Indonesia will retain the Thomas Cup for the sixth
consecutive time. We still have a chance, although our team is
only seeded five behind China, Malaysia, Denmark and South Korea.

The only edge that our shuttlers can count on (above foreign
teams) is public support from a home crowd. The PBSI has
repeatedly asked Jakartans to flock to the stadium to support the
players, but the tickets are too expensive. They range from Rp
25,000 (US$2.89) for regular seats to Rp 150,000 for VIPs.

Who can afford such a high price? Middle- to high-income
people won't rush there and others would rather watch the games
on TV. The PBSI should lower ticket prices for matches in which
Indonesia is playing, so that more spectators will show up.

-- The Jakarta Post