Asian Cup CEO Michael Brown "remains confident the ACT government's multimillion-dollar investment in the tournament will be money well spent" despite Capital Football CEO Heather Reid admitting she is "concerned with 'very slow' ticket sales," according to Lee Gaskin of the CANBERRA TIMES. The ACT government paid A$3.5M ($3M) for Canberra Stadium to host seven games, including a quarterfinal, of next year's Asian Cup from Jan. 10-23. It is the largest football tournament held in Australia and "has a potential television audience in excess of 1 billion people, but ticket sales in Canberra have struggled" despite prices for an adult ticket starting at A$15. Brown said the board remained "positive" about ticket sales, with "promotional activities to be ramped up after the finish" of the National Rugby League and Australian Football League seasons. Brown: "We're not at the stage of things aren't going to sell, but we are at the stage of call to arms time. ... We will appeal to people in Canberra and the surrounding regions, south coast, to find a reason to watch a world-class event in Canberra." Reid said that she had been told by Football Federation Australia Chair Frank Lowy to do "everything she could to boost Asian Cup ticket sales." Reid: "Ticket sales are very slow. I'm concerned and I'm particularly concerned when Mr. Lowy says we're counting on you, Heather, to get tickets sales up." Brown said that Lowy's input was a sign of "how much he believes in the positive impact the Asian Cup can have for the sport in this country" (CANBERRA TIMES, 10/12).
