Lunar New Year Cup Organizers Face Big Losses, But Say Big Turnout Priority

South China is "prepared to bite the bullet and lose money to ensure a big turnout" for the AET Lunar New Year Cup clash against North American Soccer League side N.Y. Cosmos at Hong Kong Stadium next month, according to Chan Kin-wa of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. Ticket prices for the annual event, on Feb. 19, have been set at HK$100 ($13) -- the same as a domestic match -- and HK$30 ($4) for concessionary tickets for the elderly and students. South China Convenor Wallace Cheung Kwong-yung: "The Lunar New Year is the biggest festival for the local community and it is important to keep the tradition by bringing in top-class performers." The organizers "are hoping to sell 20,000 tickets, but that would not be enough to cover costs," estimated to be HK$5M ($640,000), which also includes $200,000 in tournament prize money. Cheung: "We won't even think about profit. We just want more people to come" (SCMP, 1/19).