World Cup craze to boost night activities
JAKARTA (JP): As the World Cup hype continues to sweep Indonesia, the country's ardent soccer fans are set to participate in what could be the most extravagant nocturnal celebration in spectator sport.
The football fiestas range from a US$7,500 luxury tour to watch the World Cup events directly in the United States, late- night beer and pizza in one of Jakarta's leading Italian restaurants to a one month leave from the workplace - required for proper early dawn couch-potatoing in front of the television.
The point is, what ever the form of celebration, some people are going to make a profit.
For example, cash registers at A & E Sports Communication -the only agent licensed to sell Cup tickets in Southeast Asia- have been striking music for the managers' ears.
A & E offers a $7,500 Cup tour per head which covers the four tickets required to watch the quarter finals, semifinal, grand final and the consolation match that decides which team comes third.
The tour, subsequently, encloses events in New York City, Boston, Dallas, San Francisco and Los Angeles. All accommodations are five-star hotels.
Maurice Tuguis, a staffer at A & E, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the agency had already sold 100 packages for soccer fanatics outside Indonesia and 50 packages in the country.
"We sold the Indonesian packages to Vaya Tour which then sells them directly to the consumers," he said.
Tuguis added that Vaya Tour has already sold about 70 percent of those packages and has 16 confirmed costumers.
Apparently, one of the 16 clients is the entertainer and RCTI talk-show host Ebet Kadarusman.
"I just love this sport," Ebet said to the Post by telephone.
The entertainer - often dubbed the Indonesian answer to Johnny Carson- however, claims not to be a fan of any specific team.
"Besides my soccer addiction, I'm going to America also to observe the preparation and organization of this spectacular event, which is also a showbiz happening," he said.
"As you know, America is the mecca of showbiz," added Ebet, adding that he is planning to make the tour with his wife and a group of friends.
Meanwhile, for those who choose to, or are forced to, cultivate their Cup fever at home, a five-star Italian restaurant here has prepared an arena for these fanatics, as long as they shout Forza Italia.
"We will open our bar at three in the morning beginning Saturday night to watch Italy against Ireland," said Paolo Randone, the manager of Il Punto, yesterday.
"Beer and pizzas will be offered with a discount price," the Italian said, adding "however, I'm not sure whether we can continue this if Italy is ejected from the Cup."
Orgy
For those who enjoy a more private setting for the inevitable nocturnal football orgy, the best option is clearly the living room, where intense couch-potatoing before the television can be executed.
This choice, as matter of fact, has contributed to the sales figures of some television manufactures based in Jakarta. A recent report, for instance, indicated that 10 points of this year's 30 percent growth in the sales of JVC televisions comes directly from this hype.
Meanwhile, it is not clear how this soccer euphoria will affect the productivity of the country's workforce, which will devote some of their normal sleeping hours to their addiction.
A graphic designer who works at a newspaper recently informed the Post that he has taken one month leave so that he can "concentrate on watching the World Cup broadcasts."
No statistical studies have been conducted to see how many of Indonesia's professionals have taken a similar soccer sabbatical. (hdj)