Hang the cost and danger, it's Durban or bust for soccer fans
MARK RUSSELL
May 23, 2010
EX-SOCCEROO bad boy Mark Bosnich can still pull a crowd.
Confirmation that the former goalkeeping great will be one of the hosts of the Fanatics' World Cup soccer tour to South Africa has so far prompted more than 1000 Australians to sign up for the 16-night package deal.
The Fanatics, a group of dedicated fans who support Australian sporting teams, have even named the bar at their Durban headquarters after Bosnich, whose cocaine addiction skittled his playing career but failed to dent his popularity.
The "Durban HQ" tours — among the cheapest World Cup packages available with prices from $4795 to $6895 per person including tickets to all three of Australia's Pool D games — offer travellers accommodation in a virtual tent city.
At the other end of the scale, Emirates Airline's top World Cup package costs more than $94,000 for two, flying first class and staying at the five-star Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town, with tickets to three group matches, the round of 16, the quarter-final, semi-final and final.
In a cheeky marketing twist, Intrepid Travel is offering a "World Cup Widows" tour for women who want to travel anywhere overseas (apart from South Africa) to avoid being stuck at home with a partner glued to the television for a month watching the soccer. "Hubby won't even notice you're gone," Intrepid's Meg Koffel says.
Despite travel costs and safety threats, Australians have bought about 45,000 World Cup tickets so far and travel agencies say interest in tour packages is picking up as the kick-off on June 11 draws closer.
Fanatics spokeswoman Ellina Tanase said men made up about about 80 per cent of bookings for the "Durban HQ" packages and news of Bosnich's involvement had boosted sales.
Bosnich will meet tour group members before each of Australia's three group matches and discuss his insights into the game. The former Aston Villa, Manchester United and Chelsea goalkeeper will then be there post-match at the bar to celebrate or commiserate with them.
Bosnich, 38, who is now a popular soccer commentator after playing 17 games for the Socceroos, will be joined as a Fanatics tour host by former Australian captain Charlie Yankos and former Socceroos coach Frank Arok. The Fanatics have also organised for bands Powderfinger, Fatboy Slim and Electric Mary to play on non-match days.
"Having these bands and football hosts on tour sets us apart," Ms Tanase said. "When there are several options available, we need points of difference to be able to sell our tours."
The tour group will stay in 550 "semi-luxury" tents set up at the Sahara Stadium Kingsmead. To counter security fears, fingerprint scanners will control access to the site and armed guards with dogs will patrol day and night.
Sportsnet Holidays and Total Sports Travel's World Cup packages are also selling well with more than 1000 tours already snapped up. Sportsnet sales manager Daniel Cecconi said the "Socceroos, Sombreros and Safari Tour", hosted by the Four Diegos, from Melbourne's SEN radio station, had sold out.
Football Federation Australia spokesman Rod Allen said
interest in the World Cup had grown since Socceroos head coach Pim Verbeek named his preliminary squad earlier this month.
"It will build steadily in the lead-up to the game against New Zealand at the MCG [tomorrow] and continue as the team heads to South Africa straight after that," he said. "There is no greater sporting event on earth."
Organisers claim more than 90 per cent or 2.5 million tickets have been sold so far.
Among those cheering on the Socceroos in person will be Strathmore father-of-three Stephen McGowan, 46, and his son Daniel, 17.
Mr McGowan said he booked a tour with Sportsnet because he felt it was safer than making his own arrangements.
The trip will cost about $20,000 and include all of Australia's group games, two other games featuring Italy and Argentina and four nights at the Kruger National Park.
"My son is so passionate about soccer I decided to give this to him for Christmas last year," Mr McGowan said. "He's so excited . . . every night I come home he tells me how many days to go before we head off.
"When we tell people we're going everyone asks the same question, 'Is it safe?', but I'm sure everything will be OK."
The federal government's Smart Traveller website has advised fans to exercise "a high degree of caution because of the high level of serious crime" in South Africa.
The safety threat has not deterred fans, with FIFA figures showing Australians have bought the fourth-highest quota of tickets behind South Africa (1,252,844 tickets), the US (134,953) and the UK (99,153).
Many games have sold out, including the June 11 opener between South Africa and Mexico in Johannesburg, both semi-finals and the July 11 final. FIFA's website shows Australia's opening game against Germany on June 13 in Durban is sold out but tickets are still available for the games against Ghana and Serbia.
mrussell@theage.com.auhttp://www.theage.com.au/world-cup-2010/world-cup-news/hang-the-cost-and-danger-its-durban-or-bust-for-soccer-fans-20100522-w33y.html