Vaccinated Jamaicans hoping to be among the 5,000 spectators who will be allowed to enter the National Stadium to watch the country’s World Cup qualifier against the United States later this month, will have to buy their tickets online through a new Events Authorisation System app starting tomorrow (November 3).

The app is being introduced to faciliate the online purchase of tickets, now that the Government says it is in a position to re-admit spectators – albeit in a limited way – beginning with the November 16 match at the National Stadium.

With tickets coming at a cost of $7,700 for the Grandstand and $2,000 for the bleachers, 1,000 seats will be available in the former and only 4,000 in the latter. The stadium’s normal capacity is for 35,000 people.

People wishing to purchase tickets will have to produce their vaccination cards and valid means of identification.

Olivia Grange, minister of culture, gender, entertainment and sport, outlined the ticket purchasing procedures during a news conference involving Desmond McKenzie, minister of local government and rural development, Dr Christopher Tufton, minister of health and wellness, and Michael Ricketts, president of the Jamaica Football Federation, to announce plans for the World Cup Qualifier.

“We are using this event to signal a significant change in how we will manage sporting events going forward,” Grange said.

“Last year June, we developed a road map, outlining the requirements and the process for resuming training and competition. Using that roadmap, we were able to safely host: ISSA Boys and Girls Championships, development track and field meets, the National Senior and Junior Trials, the National Premier League, as well as the National Championships for table tennis, golf, tennis, chess, equestrian, squash, triathlon, swim meets at the National Aquatic Centre, the West Indies versus Pakistan cricket series, the Sunshine Netball Series and two FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

“This required a whole of government approach, working our various sport stakeholders.

“Working together, we have been able to host many sporting activities safely — without putting our athletes, our communities or our country at risk. I am proud that we are now in a position to take the next steps in our management of sports events during this era of COVID-19.

“It will not only be a test for the Reggae Boyz, but for the entire nation as we move into the next phase in the management of COVID-19.

“We want to ensure that all our sportspeople can return to competition; and we also want to ensure the fans can return to the match venues. But fans cannot return until we achieve a high level of vaccination across the country. Therefore, I use this opportunity to appeal to everyone — who has not yet done so — to get vaccinated.

“I wish to record my appreciation to the team at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management as well as my own team at the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.”

McKenzie said all necessary measures will be in place at the National Stadium in accordance with the COVID-19 protocols and no vending would be allowed inside the Stadium but vendors would be allowed to sell outside as is
customary.

For his part, Tufton said that enough time had passed for people to understand the importance of being vaccinated and to get vaccinated.

“We must show our appreciation to those who have got themselves vaccinated and let it be shown that those who are not vaccinated are at a disadvantage.

He said: “The move to allow spectators into the Stadium represents a giant step forward in normalising operations while COVID-19 is still with us.”