FC Goa Tickets To Be Dearer This ISL

The tickets for FC Goa matches at the Pandit  Jawharlal Nehru stadium Fatorda are going to be dearer this season. After the crores being pumped, the returns have been pretty negligible. Hence, the rise in prices of tickets. Though The Goan is yet to ascertain the quantum of raise, the hike is inevitable according to sources linked with the team and ISL.

“ Close to two crores were grossed from ticket sales last year. The ticket selling companies and other costs had to be deducted. The turnover was not much. FC Goa  intend making atleast four crores, in the minimum, this season. They can do so only by increasing the price of tickets,” disclosed our source.

“The Fatorda stadium has a fixed capacity. The intake capacity of spectators cannot be increased in anyway. Increasing the price of tickets is the only option,” justified our source. 19,800 is the capacity of the stadium. Initially last year, tickets were priced at Rs 100,200,300 and 2,500. It increased to 200,400,480 and 3,000 as FC Goa reached the semi-finals. Though not all tickets were initially sold-plenty were initially distributed free to children- bedlam started when the team reached the semi-finals. People , for the first time in Goa after a long , long time had to spend the night outside the stadium for the ticket counters to open the next day. Yet , there were many unhappy as the tickets got sold out immediately.

“We are in the process of deciding the ticketing strategy. It is too early to say anything now. We will announce about the tickets at the right time, “stated  Rahul Raichand FC Goa’s marketing man in Mumbai. “Email me your questions and I will get back to you in time,” he stated. At the time of going to press, despite reminders, there was no response from him.

Every club is allowed to spend Rs 21 crores on players from the team. “FC Goa will not be spending the full amount but the overheads are many. The teams expenditure can easily touch 35 crores this season,” said a source closely linked with the running modalities of ISL.

All TV money collected by ISL is distributed to IMG, Star Sports and the clubs.”TV money collected by ISL, after deducting all expenses, is   supposed to be distributed to clubs . Last year no  amount  could be distributed to the  clubs as it was reported that cost was more than  the TV collection . It was the first time spending frenzy  that did not surprise many in ISL. “ The clubs could not be paid the money promised to them,” stated our source from Mumbai. “Initially each club was expected to be paid around Rs five crores,” stated our source reluctantly.

All costs and payments are closely monitored by the people running ISL. For example, Chetri does not get rs 1.5 crores from Mumbai City. “ Chetri is paid Rs 75 lakhs by  Bengaluru FC and the franchise that has bought him in the auction (Mumbai FC) pays him the remaining 80 lakhs.So he gets Rs 1.5 crores in total. So long as it does not cross 1.5 crores,” stated our source while explaining the inner workings of ISL.

“Whatever happens, the owners will surely see that the fan is not hurt. FC Goa is the club of every Goan , as far as the owners are concerned. They are convinced of it.But , the logistics cannot be forgotten. I am sure the fans will understand this too,” stated a FC Goa source close to the owners of the team.