JFF increases ticket prices ahead of USA clash

There has been an increase in ticket prices for the Reggae Boyz's FIFA World Cup qualifier against the United States at the National Stadium on November 16.

Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Michael Ricketts made the announcement during a media briefing at the Ministry of Local Government yesterday.

It now will cost $7,700 to enter the grandstand, a $1,200 increase from the last campaign in 2016. Patrons wishing to sit in the bleachers will now have to pay $2,000, which represents an $800 rise.

Ricketts says only 1,000 persons will be allowed in the grandstand and 4,000 in the bleachers.

"Jamaica's position in the current qualifying round demands that as a nation we unite in support of the team, and of course, the technical staff," Ricketts said.

"This unit (the fans) needs to be visible to the team, having fans as the 12th man in the stands at the stadium is indeed a huge part of the process."

The JFF says that only fully vaccinated persons over the age of 18-years-old can apply to purchase tickets for the game. This will be done through The Ticket Fairy, an electronic ticket monitoring system.

Ricketts also said this age limit will be reviewed for upcoming games and also said through the application process, each applicant's vaccination status will be confirmed using the Ministry of Health and Wellness' database.

"We have entered a new and sophisticated phase in our sporting landscape with much more reliance on the digital world and I am encouraging Jamaicans to join in this new world," he said.

The match starts at 5 p.m. but the gates will open at 1 p.m. to facilitate what the JFF hopes will be a smooth and safe flow of persons entering the venue.

"The JFF is working with the public health authorities to have in place a network of trained COVID-19 marshals, as well as security to monitor compliance with the respective protocols," Ricketts said.