The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association today launched a new partnership with the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) that entails the introduction of a Season Pass Program for all of its official National Team Matches through to November 2017, inclusive of the five home games in the CONCACAF Final Round starting with the clash versus Costa Rica at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on November 11th, 2016.
At a launch at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel on Wednesday, TTFA President David John-Williams received a cheque valued at $250,000 from NLCB Acting Director Ricardo Borde which will cover the program that will entail fans to accessing not just the Senior Men’s Team games, but all official National Team matches involving the Men and Women Senior and Youth Teams through to November 2017. There will be additional benefits such as a 20 percent discount on official TTFA merchandise, access to selected National Team training sessions and meet and greet sessions with the Players and reserved stadium entry access on matchdays. Season pass holders will also qualify for a draw where one lucky patron will receive a match ticket for the Final Match of the 2018 World Cup Finals in Russia.
The Season Passes cost $2,000 (Covered Section) and $1,000 (Uncovered Section). These season passes will on sale to the public at First Citizen’s Bank branches from this coming Monday. FCB is the official retail partner for the program. There will be 5,000 season passes for the uncovered section and 1400 for the covered section.
I95.5 FM has also come on board as official broadcast partner for the promotion of the season pass program.
The TTFA also announced the presentation of season passes to longstanding and outstanding contributors to local football and other sports including Alvin Corneal (former national coach and player), Leroy De Leon (former national player), Sedley Joseph (former national coach and player) Edgar Vidale (former national coach), Bobby Sookram (Former National Player) Lennox Pilgrim (administrator) Osmond Downer (former FIFA referee), Rudolph Thomas (former administrator), Everald “Gally” Cummings (Former National Coach and Player), Jean Mouttet (Former National Goalkeeper), Keshorn Walcott (Olympic athlete), Akeem Stewart (Paralympic Athlete), Nyoshia Cain (Paralympic Athlete).
Further presentations of this kind will made over the course of the coming weeks.
John-Williams also announced plans by the TTFA to launch a Football Hall of Fame within the next 12 months.
Meantime, tickets for the upcoming Caribbean Cup Qualifier against Dominican Republic, which also serves as a qualifier for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, will go on sale from Thursday at all Sports and Games outlets, all Kenny’s Sports Shops and Ramsingh’s Sportworld in Couva. Tickets cost $200 (covered) and $100 (covered). The game is scheduled for 7pm on October 5th at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
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NLCB/T&TFA sign off on new partnership.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).
Season tickets go for $2,000 and $1,000
The T&T Football Association through the successful campaign thus far of the Soca Warriors on the road to Russia 2018 has partnered with National Lotteries Control Board/T&T Football Association to provide easier access to tickets to matches for the public, and in so doing generation more financial support.
Making the announcement was T&TFA President, David John-Williams at media briefing held at the Grand Riviere Room, Courtyard Marriott Hotel, Invaders Bay, yesterday.
John-Williams in reflecting on how the idea came about said, “Back in 2015 when this administration was elected into office we did have a vision to have a season ticket programme for the T&TFA. That opportunity was afforded when T&T drew 2-2 with Guatemala on September 2, which allowed the opportunity for us to launch a season ticket programme.”
The T&TFA boss explained, “This season ticket programme is going to allow access to all T&T home matches in the “Hex” and all national team friendly matches at home, as well as national youth and women games at home, and this season ticket will allow easy and preferred access to the stadium, a guarantee seat.
Concerning the allotment of tickets, John-Williams stated, “We are putting on the market 5,000 uncovered stand tickets and 1400 covered stand tickets.
“We are allocating 200 of those tickets in the covered stands to legends of the games and people who have contributed significantly to T&T football.
Among the ten legends of the game who were at the briefing and presented with season passes by the T&TFA included Alvin Corneal, Leroy De Leon, Everard “Gally” Cummings, Lennox “Bullet” Pilgrim, Osmond Downer and a representative of former national caption Sedley Joseph. The trio of Edgar Vidale, Jean Mouttet and Rudolph Thomas were absent.
National field athletes, Keshorn Walcott, who won javelin gold at the London 2012 Olympics and added bronze at the 2016 Rio Games in the same event as well as Akeem Stewart, gold medal winner at the recent 2016 Para Olympics javelin F44 final and bronze in the F43/44 discus final will also be presented with season passes.
In saluting the past players, John-Williams said, “for far too long we have failed to recognise the people who are responsible for us here today and I think that its very important that this administration starts by recognising these legends of the game.
“It’s the intend of this administration to introduce and start a football “Hall of Fame” within the next 12 months.
As part of the season ticket programme as well, the T&TFA in discussion with FIFA will obtain six tickets for the final game of the World Cup in Russia 2018 and those people who participate and purchase a season ticket will go into a lottery that will give them the opportunity to win a ticket for the finals of the World Cup 2018.
But all of this would not have been possible without our partner today, NLCB, I dear say that this is the first of good news that will be happening in the next two weeks. If you think this one is big, standby for 14 days later.
NLCB has decided to come on board and partner with us and offset the cost of not only today”s event, but the printing of the tickets, the launch of and marketing cost to the tune of $250,000.
And this is all about rebranding the T&TFA and its all about changing the image of the T&TFA. For far too long football has been embroiled in controversy, but NLCB has become a very good partner for us.”
In more good news, First Citizens Bank has also agreed to be the official retail outlet for the T&TFA season pass.
The cost of the covered stand tickets will be $2,000 and the un-covered stand tickets are priced at $1000, while the season pass will also act as a discount card when people who hold the season pass will be able to get 20 per cent discount on all T&TFA merchandising.
Ricardo Borde, Acting Director of NLCB first congratulated the T&TFA and the senior men’s national team on progressing to the final round of Concacaf World Cup qualification.
“NLCB is committed to supporting sports, especially football and this goes back to 2006 when our former chairman Louis Lee Singh supported the Soca Warriors on their successful journey to Germany 2006.
“So this today is just an extension of our support for football and we are please to partner with the T&TFA in launching the season ticket programme and as David John-Williams its just the start of things to come.
Borde was also full of praise for coach Stephen Hart and noted that the present team is also an extension of what was started by the ex players way back.
With regards to the supporting of the T&TFA, Borde warned that accountability was very important to his company as they hold all benefactors accountable for every cent that they spend as the money belongs to the state.
Season passes for TT football games.
By JELANI BECKLES (NEWSDAY).
FANS of national football eager to witness all upcoming matches including 2018 World Cup qualifiers can now buy season ticket passes as a partnership between the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) and the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) was announced yesterday.
Persons can buy season covered tickets for $2000, while uncovered season tickets will cost $1000. A purchase of a ticket will allow someone to attend all home matches played by national football teams (men/women/youth) including the five home 2018 World Cup qualifying matches played by the Soca Warriors starting in November.
Season ticket holders will get a 20% discount on all TTFA merchandise, meet and greet sessions with players and reserved stadium entry access on match days. Season tickets, which will be valid until November 2017, will be on sale from Monday at First Citizens branches nationwide. NLCB’s contribution towards the season ticket programme is worth $250,000.
President of the TTFA, David John-Williams, said since he was elected into office last year, implementing season tickets was a goal of his administration.
Yesterday at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel, John-Williams explained, “Back in 2015 when this administration was elected into office we did have a vision to have a season ticket programme for the TTFA. That opportunity was afforded when TT drew 2-2 with Guatemala on September 2 which allowed the opportunity for us to launch a season ticket programme. This season ticket programme is going to allow access to all TT home games in the hex (final round of World Cup qualifiers) and all national team friendly games at home, youth and women’s games at home.” John-Williams said the season ticket will allow preferred access into the stadium and a guaranteed seat. The TTFA boss stated 5000 uncovered stand tickets will be put on the markets, along with 1400 covered stand tickets.
John-Williams said that legends in TT football will ge given free passes.
“We have allocated 200 of these seasoned tickets in covered stands to legends of the game and people who have contributed significantly to TT football.” Among those TT legends collecting their season passes yesterday were ex-national footballers Gally Cummings, Alvin Corneal and Leroy De Leon as well as ex-referee Osmond Downer.
The TTFA boss said it is important to recognise past greats of local football.
“For far too long we have failed to recognise the people who are responsible for us here today and I think it is very important that this administration starts by recognising these legends of the game.” As part of the season ticket programme the TTFA, in discussion with FIFA, will obtain six tickets for the 2018 Russia World Cup final.
People who purchase a season ticket will go into a lottery for a chance to win a ticket for the final.
John - Williams thanked NLCB for their donation, declaring: “All of this would not have been possible without our partner today the National Lotteries Control Board.
I dear say that this is the first of good news that will be happening in the next two weeks.
If you think this one is big stand by for 14 days later.” Acting Director of NLCB Ricardo Borde said sport is a priority of the company. Borde said, “The NLCB as you know is committed in supporting sport especially football. We are pleased to partner with the TTFA in launching this programme and as John-Williams said this is the start of things to come, we have a lot more in store for you all. We want to support them because out there the footballers represent us.” Alvin Corneal on behalf of the legends said he appreciated the gesture by the TTFA.
Corneal said, “to think that the TT Football Association has decided to be as generous as they are here now to allow the opportunity of some of the former players to have access to all the games it is truly an appreciation to us. We appreciate it very much for a lot of reasons. Some of the you may not be aware of the great interest we still have in football.”