One doubleheader for this summer's FIFA Women's World Cup "has already been sold out at Investors Group Field while another is currently close to a sellout," according to Jim Bender of the WINNIPEG SUN. The June 12 event featuring Australia-Nigeria and U.S.-Sweden "has sold out," and there "are less than 3,000 tickets left for the first doubleheader on June 8," featuring Sweden-Nigeria and U.S.-Australia. The "only other game sold out to date" is the tournament final in Vancouver. National Organizing Committee Winnipeg Venue GM Chad Falk said, "There's been a strong embrace from local ethnic communities who wanted to make big group buys." Bender noted the tickets are "reasonably priced," from C$38-96. The stadium's capacity "has been reduced to 26,000 from 33,500 due to tweaks to the stands to allow for broadcast positions and a media centre." As for the entire tourney, about 625,000 tickets "have already been sold." Organizers "are hoping to draw 1.5 million fans to the 52 matches, which would break the record of 1,194,215" set by the '99 Women's World Cup hosted by the U.S. (WINNIPEG SUN, 3/22).
