Rugby League World Cup chief ‘devastated’ after sound failures cut opening ceremony short
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Rugby League World Cup chief ‘devastated’ by last weekend’s fiasco after noise cuts cut opening ceremony – but claims tournament is on track to sell more tickets than the Women’s Euros
- Rugby League World Cup chief Jon Dutton has expressed his ongoing frustrations
- Due to sound problems, the opening ceremony of the tournament had to be aborted
- Kaiser Chiefs performed, but was only able to play one of their two scheduled songs
- However, Dutton has suggested that ticket sales will surpass women’s euros
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Rugby League World Cup boss Jon Dutton has revealed he was ‘devastated’ by last weekend’s opening ceremony fiasco, but says the tournament is on track to sell more tickets than the Women’s Euros.
The home event got off to a disastrous start last Saturday when the pre-match show at St James’ Park was abruptly ended after a noise cut, with the Kaiser Chiefs only able to perform one of their two scheduled songs.
“I was personally absolutely devastated by what happened and when it happened,” RLWC 2021 chief executive Dutton said on Thursday.
Rugby League World Cup boss Jon Dutton expressed frustration at opening ceremony
Kaiser Chiefs performed, but noise issues during the ceremony forced their set to be aborted
However, Dutton has suggested that tournament ticket sales will surpass the women’s Euros
“After going through the rehearsals, meeting the six ambassadors to bring in the trophies and hearing the Kaiser Chiefs perform the hit they were due to do at the end, it was a very challenging day for me and for my team seen the work and effort put into it.
“We have to take the time to investigate it properly. I have received a first report. We’re going to get to the bottom of it, and we’ll do it carefully and methodically.’
Dutton, however, has been boosted by ticket sales since England’s 60-6 defeat of Samoa in the curtain, with fans flocking to the homeland.
Host nation England kicked off the tournament with a resounding 60-6 win over Samoa
“On Saturday night after the England game, we had our highest sales since opening the ballot two years ago,” Dutton revealed. “The postcode with the most sales on Saturday night was London. What we’re seeing now is a trend where people are charting the path of England.’
More than 35,000 tickets have already been sold for the potential England semi-final at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. Total sales are already close to 458,000 from the last World Cup at home in 2013.
Dutton added: ‘The women’s euro figure of 571,000 is the next milestone on the journey and we are confident that we will surpass that.’
Dutton said he is ‘confident’ the tournament will sell more than the women’s €571,000
Fans have seized the opportunity to watch England play as Saturday’s match is nearly sold out
England’s match against France in Bolton on Saturday is nearly sold out, with Shaun Wane yesterday naming all seven players who did not feature against Samoa in his 19-man roster.
John Bateman, who is back from suspension, Ryan Hall, Andy Ackers, Joe Batchelor, Mikolaj Oledzki, Kai Pearce-Paul and Marc Sneyd are included.
Goalkicking winger Tommy Makinson, who scored 24 points against Samoa, has been given a rest along with forwards Mike McMeeken, Mike Cooper, Morgan Knowles and Matty Lees.