100,000 Chinese football fans to buy US$25m worth of hospitality packages for 2018 World Cup in Russia
Shankai Sports is appointed as official agent to sell hospitality deals to fans in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan
Up to 100,000 football fans from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau are expected to buy about US$25 million worth of hospitality packages to travel to Russia and watch the 2018 Fifa World Cup.
Feng Tao, chief executive officer of Beijing-based Shankai Sports, said he expected the number of fans from the region attending next year’s tournament to far exceed the estimated 5,000 who watched the 2014 event in Brazil.
Feng was speaking after sports business company Shankai was appointed exclusive sales agent for the four territories to sell official hospitality packages for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2017 Confederations Cup.
“This is a great opportunity for Chinese fans to watch live football, the World Cup particularly,” said Feng, whose company also bought the regional rights for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the 2010 tournament in South Africa. “The Chinese government has put a lot of investment in developing the sports industry, especially football, so it creates a lot of interest in the market in China.
“More people in China would like to watch the World Cup and we are now able to create the opportunity for Chinese fans to access the World Cup in Russia.”
