For slightly more than a month now, Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) has told almost everyone who wants to hear that tickets for the two-day World Rugby Sevens Tier 2 competition scheduled for Nyayo National DStadium on February 14-15, 20025 have been sold out.

According to KRU, sold out means 15,000 tickets that were offered for sale have all been snapped up. The organization has gone on a media blitz convincing rugby fans that unless they have tickets, it is needless to travel to the venue that seats over 35,000 because there would not be any tickets.

All tickets had been offered online and KRU urged fans to ensure they bought their tickets in good time to avoid disappointment. But, sports fans have their own interpretation and the fear of missing out syndrome could scuttle KRU’s plan to avoid ticketless fans accessing the venue.

Minimum Requirements

At the moment, KRU have extensively explained that World Rugby had conveyed minimum requirements that should be met if Kenya were to host this tournament for Tier Two countries. One of the requirements was how many spectators could be comfortably accommodated and managed during the two-day tournament.

Data analytics from a dry run which was Safari Sevens indicated that capacity to be 15,000 fans. On the flip side, the ‘sold out’ narrative could have been a shrewd marketing ploy by KRU to hype the tournament. However, there will be free loaders from the sponsors, sports ministry and other affiliates of KRU who have been given tickets to attend the two-day bonanza.

The reality is that although KRU has categorically stated there would be no sales of tickets at the gates, it is still possible that fans who missed out are still likely to travel to the venue. Now this is a reality that KRU cannot ignore and must deal with because if such fans make their way to the venue, their intention would be to access the stadium at all costs.

Crowd Control

Crowd control is not effectively handled by media statements but are backed by a physical presence to enforce the established protocols. What plans have been put in place for fans to watch the event elsewhere since SuperSport has the broadcasting rights?

On a different note, most participating countries have been part of high profile tournaments and have experienced some of the minimum requirements such as accommodation, practice venues, and transport among others. They are in a position to call out shoddy arrangements and in extreme circumstances make their own alternative arrangements.

The organizational competence will be put to test this week. Already there are comparisons being made with how football teams were treated during CHAN. In hindsight, KRU elections are next month and most officials are looking for leverage from the tournament.