2023 World Cup targets attendance record

FOSHAN – Manila will host the 2023 FIBA World Cup final at the Philippine Arena and head of operations Cito Martelino said yesterday the target is to set a new attendance record of over 50,000.

“We can do up to 60,000 if FIBA will allow standing room only,” said Martelino who was appointed by SBP to oversee logistics, including transportation, arrangement of playing and practice venues, medical services, board and lodging and security. “Right now, we are aiming for an audience of at least 52,000 in the final. We know we can do it. We’ll set a new attendance record for a World Cup final.”

The long-standing World Cup final record in attendance is 35,000 established when the US played Brazil at the Maracanazinho Stadium in Rio de Janeiro in 1954. That was when the Philippines took third place, the highest finish ever by an Asian country in the 69-year history of the competition.

Martelino said the recent back-to-back sellout games between Australia and the US in pre-World Cup friendlies at the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne pose a challenge. “Although they weren’t World Cup games, we’d like to surpass the crowds in Melbourne,” he said. The first game drew 51,218 fans as the US beat Australia, 102-86, last Aug. 22. Two days later, the Boomers beat the visitors 98-94, before 52,079 fans in the same Melbourne venue, ending the US’ 78-game win streak in international competition since a semifinal loss to Greece at the 2016 World Cup. Record keepers apparently refuse to consider the US losses to Argentina, 80-63, and Mexico, 78-70, during the FIBA Americas World Cup Qualifiers in the streak.

The record for the largest crowd to attend a basketball game was set at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as 108,713 fans converged to witness the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. The previous mark was 78,129 for an NCAA game between Michigan State and Kentucky at the Ford Field in Detroit in 2003. Before that, the record was 75,000 for a Harlem Globetrotters game at the Berlin Olympic Stadium in 1951.

Martelino and SBP executive assistant Xander Gubat went on an observation tour of the 14,700-seat GBA International Sports and Cultural Center, one of eight venues of the FIBA World Cup, here last Tuesday. They were joined by representatives of Smart Araneta Coliseum – Uniprom chief operating officer Irene Jose, Araneta Center chief of staff Noel Leonor, Araneta Center deputy assistant Mike de Castro, Uniprom Ticketnet operations manager Karen Nicasio, Araneta venue operations manager Anthony Garcia and Uniprom booking and events manager Maria Concepcion Bernabe.

In Beijing, Martelino and Gubat will be joined on another observation tour by 2023 FIBA World Cup Philippine head of the Joint Management Committee John Lucas, representatives of the Philippine Arena (chief operating officer Glicerio Santos, operations manager Enrile Teodoro, legal counsel Benju Ardana, safety officer Paul Ortiz and facilities officers John Morales and Jeff Jose) and representatives of MOA Arena (general manager Arnel Gonzales, event services manager Mara Agena and operations manager Ronoe Dawa). The tour will be from Sept. 10-15 to include observing the semifinals and final.

“What we’re impressed with is the technology China is using for the World Cup,” said Martelino. “For instance, face recognition of an ID takes only 0.7 of a second in the security pass-through. Size is another impressive aspect. The ceiling for each shower cubicle is extremely high to accommodate seven-footers. The size of the media room is enormous with lockers for every reporter. There is a dressing room just for the mascot, a coaches meeting room and furniture for the dressing rooms of the teams.”

Because FIBA requires courtside space for TV commentators and technical officials, Martelino estimated about 2,000 patron seats will be sacrificed at the Big Dome in 2023. “Those seats will be unbolted,” he said. “Maybe, Araneta will consider investing in retractable seats like the MOA Arena. It will make Araneta compliant with FIBA standards for future FIBA events like Olympic Qualifiers or Asian competitions. For 2023, FIBA will provide new courts and new backboards for each of our playing venues.”