FIFA Rakes Cash, But Slow Ticket Sales May Hurt South Africa

Ticket sales are one of the major sources of World Cup-related revenue for host countries, and South Africa's struggling ticket sales could turn out to be a major problem for the country's economy. Meanwhile, FIFA officials are confident that the tournament will be a financial success for the sport's international governing body.

Match tickets are a "key revenue stream" for a World Cup's local organizers, according to Udesh Pillay, of the Pretoria-based Human Sciences Research Council.

Pillay is editor of the book, "Development and Dreams, The Urban Legacy of the 2010 Football World Cup", the result of a five-year study into the long-term impact of the World Cup.

He notes that the local organizing committee of the Germany World Cup in 2006 made a profit of $237.5 million, "partly due to the near-capacity sales of match tickets."

South Africa 2010, because of a unique set of factors, may not be able to maximize this revenue stream as other hosts have done.

South Africa sacrifices short-term profits, hopes for long-term benefits
The Canadian Press
April 19, 2010

'Stab-Proof' Vest Angers Local Officials

A private company is offering what it calls "stab-proof" vests to tourists and spectators at the World Cup. The company claims the idea is to improve safety, but locals have blasted the product as hyping security fears in the name of profit.

Football fan Sascha Cutura, the founder of Protektorvest, says he hit on the idea after reading a story about how the German team's World Cup team security consultants had advised players and support staff to wear bullet proof vests when they ventured out of their hotel.

"This got me thinking, and I came up with a solution for people who feel they need extra protection," Cutura said in an email interview.

South Africa: Stab Proof Vests for World Cup Fans
West Cape News
January 19, 2010