World Cup tickets - sales start tomorrow (Sep 14)

[Tooting Gull]

Quite a few people I know, even England regulars at tournaments, are thinking of giving Russia a swerve. Presumably their hoolies are a major factor.

But anyone still thinking of going? Never been myself, and was half-thinking about it, as some great cities and stuff to see.

Might even 'compromise' and go to the bizarre Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad for a couple of games, which is probably calmer and easy to get to via Poland.

Thoughts?

 

[hart's shirt]

Continual threats of violence and racism throughout?

England's performance in recent tournaments?

The manner in which the tournament was awarded?

No.

 

[Tooting Gull]

Continual threats of violence and racism throughout?

England's performance in recent tournaments?

The manner in which the tournament was awarded?

No.

All fair points, even if England isn't the only reason some go to a World Cup - and you have to suspect visitor numbers will be well down on usual European country levels for World Cups and Euros. Maybe the tournament won't be the usual party as a result.

 

[Iggle Piggle]

Quite a few people I know, even England regulars at tournaments, are thinking of giving Russia a swerve. Presumably their hoolies are a major factor.

But anyone still thinking of going? Never been myself, and was half-thinking about it, as some great cities and stuff to see.

Might even 'compromise' and go to the bizarre Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad for a couple of games, which is probably calmer and easy to get to via Poland.

Thoughts?

One of the guys at work never misses an England game but is going nowhere near Russia. He explained what it was like when we lost to Russia 2-1 away when McClown was in charge when we failed dismally to qualify for the 2008 Euro's.

The night before the game, they went for a pint and left a bar wandering back to the hotel. As they left, he bent down to tie his shoe lace up and saw everyone he was with legging it the other way when a big group of Russians tipped off where the English were came round the corner. The bar they left was locked and they ended up running to another hotel guarded by a tank. The downstairs hotel area was like a hospital triage centre with stories of being attacked on the underground, by the hotel - basically anywhere in the city. He said at the game the next day, everyone had a war story to tell and an injury to go with it.

No chance. I'd rather go to Qatar.

 

[essbee1]

All fair points, even if England isn't the only reason some go to a World Cup - and you have to suspect visitor numbers will be well down on usual European country levels for World Cups and Euros. Maybe the tournament won't be the usual party as a result.

I hope and pray it's a f****** disaster. FIFA deserve to get shat on.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Quite a few people I know, even England regulars at tournaments, are thinking of giving Russia a swerve.

Well you would, wouldn't you.

I'm sure Russia is an amazing country, with beautiful places and great people - but you just know that there will be a small army of nutters massed and sent out to wherever the English fans are.

 

[Tooting Gull]

I think around 20,000 England fans went to Brazil - likely to be a lot lower. And nothing like the 300,000 from England, North Ireland and Wales in France last year.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

The Russian thugs from France will be back in their uniforms on duty policing the games.

I'd avoid it all to be honest.

 

[Justice]

Typical Russia 30 years behind the rest of the world,

 

[Giraffe]

I've been a regular at tournaments in the past but I am giving this one a miss.

Went to Russia for an England game a few years ago and everything about the trip was poor other than the football (which we lost 2-1).

Things that concern me about going to this tournament:

1) Hooligans - you will suffer this in some way, whether you actually get hit is luck (even for our one game a few years ago our hotel was petrol bombed). If you watched that documentary about hooligans preparing for the world cup you would not go. it is that bad.
2) Travel - Roads around Moscow are a nightmare, taxi drivers are nutters. If you are travelling from city to city in Russia there is a lot of miles between each so driving may not be an option. Flying is cary as Russian aircraft have the worst safety in the world.
3) Food - dreadful just dreadful
4) The people - don't expect anyone to smile, they rarely do. The opposite of Americans, which is no bad thing, but not exactly a warm and welcoming place.
5) Police/army - grouped together because there is little between them. The bigger the hat, the more brutal they seem to be.
6) Flights to get there - expensive and quite possibly needs one or two changes depending on where you are going, see point 2).

I think this summarises it for me. Would like to go, but my brain says no, save your money for Qatar.

 

[DavidRyder]

I've already plumped the cushions up on the sofa in readiness, so not wanting to waste that effort, I'll be watching on the TV, with a nice plate of mince & onions. Lovely stuff.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Absolutely no interest in either this or Qatar. Both corrupt tournaments. If the World Cup can return to being a football tournament by 2026 then I may take an interest. FIFA is a rancid organisation that has removed a lot of joy from the Beautiful Game.

 

[Simgull]

I notice the tickets have a category for 'obese persons'. Is that a first?

 

[Tooting Gull]

I've been a regular at tournaments in the past but I am giving this one a miss.

Went to Russia for an England game a few years ago and everything about the trip was poor other than the football (which we lost 2-1).

Things that concern me about going to this tournament:

1) Hooligans - you will suffer this in some way, whether you actually get hit is luck (even for our one game a few years ago our hotel was petrol bombed). If you watched that documentary about hooligans preparing for the world cup you would not go. it is that bad.
2) Travel - Roads around Moscow are a nightmare, taxi drivers are nutters. If you are travelling from city to city in Russia there is a lot of miles between each so driving may not be an option. Flying is cary as Russian aircraft have the worst safety in the world.
3) Food - dreadful just dreadful
4) The people - don't expect anyone to smile, they rarely do. The opposite of Americans, which is no bad thing, but not exactly a warm and welcoming place.
5) Police/army - grouped together because there is little between them. The bigger the hat, the more brutal they seem to be.
6) Flights to get there - expensive and quite possibly needs one or two changes depending on where you are going, see point 2).

I think this summarises it for me. Would like to go, but my brain says no, save your money for Qatar.

Good summary. I know I won't go to Qatar, on football pedigree grounds I found that bent decision even more distasteful than Russia, which at least has some history in European football (and countries like Switzerland and Sweden have hosted World Cups).

Going to be an old man by the time 2026 World Cup comes around, though Canada/US/Mexico would be good if that gets the nod! The pan-European Euros in 2020 might not be great, hard to get the same atmosphere when the tournament takes in so many countries. But Wembley should get games.

 

[T soprano]

I predict lowest ticket sales & tourists ever for a World Cup

 

[Change at Barnham]

That's the first time I've seen a ticket category for obese people.

http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/ticketing/02/90/63/59/ticketpricesforfwc2018_en-ticketpricesinusd_neutral.pdf

 

[essbee1]

I predict lowest ticket sales & tourists ever for a World Cup

But no doubt - the corrupt regime in Moscow will find a way of massaging the figures to look good
even if the stadiums are half empty.

 

[Tooting Gull]

That's the first time I've seen a ticket category for obese people.

http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/ticketing/02/90/63/59/ticketpricesforfwc2018_en-ticketpricesinusd_neutral.pdf

"For Obese Person Tickets, presentation of a signed doctor’s note stating the person’s BMI will be required. The minimum BMI in order to require and therefore be eligible for an Obese Person Ticket is 35 kg/m2."

 

[Mackenzie]

I hope we don't sell a single ticket. FIFA have ****ed up big time.

 

[Easy 10]

I'd rather shit in my own hands and clap.