The stage is set: It is estimated that between 7 and eight 8 million people are expected to attend the official Fan Fests in the twelve World Cup Host Cities – twice as many as in the stadiums.
Following a working group meeting with the Host Cities in Frankfurt, Organising Committee (OC) Senior Vice-President Horst R. Schmidt announced: ”The ticketing problem has been discussed often enough, so we are very happy that we have secured an agreement with the 12 World Cup Host Cities and FIFA to have live broadcasts on giant screens. Fans will be able to share the World Cup experience locally, even if they have not been able to obtain match tickets.
Following a working group meeting with the Host Cities in Frankfurt, Organising Committee (OC) Senior Vice-President Horst R. Schmidt announced: ”The ticketing problem has been discussed often enough, so we are very happy that we have secured an agreement with the 12 World Cup Host Cities and FIFA to have live broadcasts on giant screens. Fans will be able to share the World Cup experience locally, even if they have not been able to obtain match tickets.
Free entry for all
The live screening of 56 World Cup matches by the ARD,ZDF and RTL TV broadcasting companies has been agreed (8 games are to be played concurrently). Additionally the broadcasts will also include an attractive entertainment and music programme. Many of the live TV and radio broadcasts will come from the central Public Viewing sites in the twelve Host Cities, particularly on days where there are no matches. Fans will not be charged to watch the live match broadcasts and temporary OC 'fan embassies' will be erected to cater specifically for visitors from abroad.
FIFA Official Partners Coca Cola, Hyundai, MasterCard and Toshiba will be involved in all twelve cities, funding basic infrastructure for each Host city. In Berlin Phillips will also be involved. According to Horst R. Schmidt, “The cities, rather than the OC or FIFA, are responsible for organising the events. Particular attention must be paid to ensuring the same level of security is achieved as in the stadiums.”
FIFA Official Partners Coca Cola, Hyundai, MasterCard and Toshiba will be involved in all twelve cities, funding basic infrastructure for each Host city. In Berlin Phillips will also be involved. According to Horst R. Schmidt, “The cities, rather than the OC or FIFA, are responsible for organising the events. Particular attention must be paid to ensuring the same level of security is achieved as in the stadiums.”
FIFA: A very good solution for everyone
The cities can recover their costs by charging for vending sites or through sponsorship deals with local and regional businesses, provided they do not compete with Official Sponsors. Local and regional breweries will therefore be in a position to sell their beer alongside Anheuser Busch. There will also be a wide range of international and local gastronomic specialties on offer.
“We are delighted that the cities, working closely with the OC and FIFA, have been able to set up these events for fans and visitors, which is a first for the World Cup in this form. This also means that every city will have two venues: the stadium and the Fan Fest. We have been able to come up with some excellent solutions, particularly in the marketing sphere”. commented FIFA General Secretary Urs Linsi.
“We are delighted that the cities, working closely with the OC and FIFA, have been able to set up these events for fans and visitors, which is a first for the World Cup in this form. This also means that every city will have two venues: the stadium and the Fan Fest. We have been able to come up with some excellent solutions, particularly in the marketing sphere”. commented FIFA General Secretary Urs Linsi.
Parties in another 800 towns and cities
Along with the official Fan Fests in the twelve World Cup Host Cities there will be live broadcasts on giant screens all over Germany. More than 800 towns and cities have registered non-commercial events with the rights holder Infront Sports & Media AG. Infront has also concluded an umbrella agreement with the licensed trade association DEHOGA to allow World Cup games to be screened free of charge in their pubs and beer gardens.
There are no restrictions on these events, specifically where food and drink is concerned, as long as there are no entrance fees or the event is sponsored. Licenses are only required for commercial events and twenty applications have been registered to date. Infront will donate all income from these commercial licenses to the SOS Children's Villages foundation for the Official Charity Campaign of the 2006 Fifa World Cup, '6 villages for 2006'.
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