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Top tickets at Pacman fight to cost $ 1,000
By Nick Giongco
GETTING into the much-talked Manny Pacquiao versus Oscar Larios showdown will cost one a fortune, if not an arm and a leg.
But organizers of the July 2 show are upbeat that the 20,000-capacity Araneta Coliseum will be filled to the rafters, despite the fact that some choice seats at ringside are reportedly pegged at $ 1,000 (P51,000), which for middle-income earners is enough to feed a family of six for at least two months.
And the rest of the premium seats will also be priced at P25,000 a pop.
"These ($ 1,000) are going to be labeled as corporate seats," said someone privy to the promotion.
As in his previous two fights in the US, Pacquiao’s friends – like First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson – are expected to be among those occupying the prime seats. They are likely to be joined by politicians, government officials, rich businessmen, and other celebrities who want to be seen on a high-profile event like this.
The ticket prices are said to be the stiffest in local sports history, rivaling those in Las Vegas where $ 500 a seat is considered outrageous. Pacquiao’s fight against Erick Morales last January, for instance, commanded a price of $ 600 for the best seat in the house.
On record, the highest price for a seat in a boxing bout was when Mike Tyson fought Lennox Lewis in June 2002 which cost $ 2,200 (about P114,000 by current rate).
Officials of ABS-CBN as well as those from the Pacquiao-owned MP promotions are optimistic that, despite the hefty price tag, people will come in droves.
The so-called nosebleed section (the rafters) will be pegged at P1,000.
The Araneta Coliseum, which was inaugurated in March 1960, used to accommodate crowds as large as 30,000 and this was during the fight of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier – dubbed Thrilla in Manila in October 1975.
A few years ago, the owners reconfigured the seating arrangement, thus lowering the number of people allowed to enter the venue.
The main event will take place at 11 a.m. to accommodate the US and Mexican audience that will see the fight through ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel.
"It’s primetime in the States when the fight starts," said Pacquiao, who hasn’t fought in the country since taking out Fahsan 3K Battery of Thailand in Dec. 2004 in Taguig.
Since the fight will not be shown live on local television, fight fanatics can savor the action as it happens inside the theaters and the SM Malls across the nation which will be tapped to show the entire card.
As to how much entrance cost has yet to be decided although in previous fights of Pacquiao in the US, tickets were sold at P200 to P300.
The undercard will feature top-of-the-line Filipino fighters such as Randy Suico, Jimrex Jaca and the comebacking Gerry Penalosa.
Being eyed to square off with Suico is the rugged Tijuana native Hector Velazquez, who, last year, put up a gallant stand before being stopped by Pacquiao.
Top tickets at Pacman fight to cost $ 1,000
By Nick Giongco
GETTING into the much-talked Manny Pacquiao versus Oscar Larios showdown will cost one a fortune, if not an arm and a leg.
But organizers of the July 2 show are upbeat that the 20,000-capacity Araneta Coliseum will be filled to the rafters, despite the fact that some choice seats at ringside are reportedly pegged at $ 1,000 (P51,000), which for middle-income earners is enough to feed a family of six for at least two months.
And the rest of the premium seats will also be priced at P25,000 a pop.
"These ($ 1,000) are going to be labeled as corporate seats," said someone privy to the promotion.
As in his previous two fights in the US, Pacquiao’s friends – like First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson – are expected to be among those occupying the prime seats. They are likely to be joined by politicians, government officials, rich businessmen, and other celebrities who want to be seen on a high-profile event like this.
The ticket prices are said to be the stiffest in local sports history, rivaling those in Las Vegas where $ 500 a seat is considered outrageous. Pacquiao’s fight against Erick Morales last January, for instance, commanded a price of $ 600 for the best seat in the house.
On record, the highest price for a seat in a boxing bout was when Mike Tyson fought Lennox Lewis in June 2002 which cost $ 2,200 (about P114,000 by current rate).
Officials of ABS-CBN as well as those from the Pacquiao-owned MP promotions are optimistic that, despite the hefty price tag, people will come in droves.
The so-called nosebleed section (the rafters) will be pegged at P1,000.
The Araneta Coliseum, which was inaugurated in March 1960, used to accommodate crowds as large as 30,000 and this was during the fight of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier – dubbed Thrilla in Manila in October 1975.
A few years ago, the owners reconfigured the seating arrangement, thus lowering the number of people allowed to enter the venue.
The main event will take place at 11 a.m. to accommodate the US and Mexican audience that will see the fight through ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel.
"It’s primetime in the States when the fight starts," said Pacquiao, who hasn’t fought in the country since taking out Fahsan 3K Battery of Thailand in Dec. 2004 in Taguig.
Since the fight will not be shown live on local television, fight fanatics can savor the action as it happens inside the theaters and the SM Malls across the nation which will be tapped to show the entire card.
As to how much entrance cost has yet to be decided although in previous fights of Pacquiao in the US, tickets were sold at P200 to P300.
The undercard will feature top-of-the-line Filipino fighters such as Randy Suico, Jimrex Jaca and the comebacking Gerry Penalosa.
Being eyed to square off with Suico is the rugged Tijuana native Hector Velazquez, who, last year, put up a gallant stand before being stopped by Pacquiao.
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