Worry about broken yard or economic problem?

(Baonghean) - In the past few days, the SLNA Fans' Association forum has been buzzing about the Vinh Stadium Organizing Committee suddenly increasing ticket prices in stands B, C, and D. Most people think that increasing ticket prices at the present time is unreasonable, because the Nghe An team's performance is not good and could lead to unwanted consequences. SLNA said that they only increased ticket prices for one match, to prevent stadium collapse or complicated backstage problems because the match between SLNA and XM.Hai Phong is always prone to "trouble".

Early last week, Vinh Stadium's Organizing Committee unexpectedly announced an adjustment in ticket prices for the match between SLNA and XM.Hai Phong in the 9th round of V.League 2014 at Vinh Stadium. Accordingly, instead of 10,000 VND, viewers will have to pay 20,000 VND if they want to watch the match from stands B and C. As for stand B, fans will have to pay 40,000 VND, an increase of 10,000 VND compared to the old price if they want to watch the match. The remaining stands remain the same (A1 is 80,000 VND; A2, A3 are 70,000 VND).

SLNA must increase security and backstage work so ticket prices must be increased.

After receiving the above information, most of the Nghe An audience expressed their disagreement. The reason given was that at the present time, coach Nguyen Huu Thang and his team are not in good form. If the ticket price is increased, the audience will be disappointed and lose interest in coming to Vinh Stadium to cheer for their team. Since the beginning of the season, Nghe An audiences have been coming to the stadium less and less, if the ticket price is increased, the bad situation in the stands may increase.

There are many opinions on this issue on the Nghe An audience forum. Almost all of them believe that if they want to increase ticket prices, they should choose the right time, at least when SLNA is in good form. If they are excited about their team's performance, increasing the price by 10,000 VND, but more is not a problem.

To get an answer to this issue, we met with the responsible people at SLNA Club to learn more. A business officer of the Nghe An team said that it is true that there was an increase in ticket prices for the match between SLNA and XM.Hai Phong in the 9th round of V.League 2014. However, this was not for commercial purposes but simply to ensure the match was held safely.

Everyone knows that SLNA and XM.Hai Phong have a lot of fate. The match between the two teams in 2008 really became a black mark in the history of Vietnamese football, when fans of the two teams rushed into each other, punching and kicking, causing Vinh stadium to be covered in blood, one fan was gone forever. The following matches between the two teams, whether at Lach Tray stadium or Vinh stadium, were always tense behind the scenes.

The same goes for the match this weekend, Vinh Stadium's organizing committee is forced to increase its force and invest a lot of money to prepare. A leader of SLNA said that this budget is not included in the sponsor's approved spending plan, so Vinh Stadium's organizing committee is forced to make changes. Therefore, after discussion and agreement, SLNA decided to increase ticket prices for stands B, C, D to create a source of funding for these expenses. All have clear purposes and plans, not at all from commercial purposes as many people think.

Of course, after the match with XM.Hai Phong, Vinh Stadium's Organizing Committee will continue to apply the old price for the remaining matches at home. The Nghe An team's viewpoint is to take the audience as the root. All goals are aimed at the audience, there is absolutely no way to take advantage of the audience for profit. If for commercial purposes, SLNA would have increased ticket prices since the 2013 season, when many matches at Vinh Stadium were "sold out".

Article and photos:Vinh Liem