RECORD OPENING DAY CROWD SEEN SUNDAY
Two weeks before the start of the PBA’s 40th season, PBA chairman Pato Gregorio boldly predicted that the league’s opening ceremonies at the Philippine Arena will be a sold-out event.
“We’ll try to fill up that 55,000-seater arena. I think we can do it,” he said.
And with just less than a week before the season begins, it seems like the league will really welcome its 2015 Season with a packed venue and a record opening day crowd.
PBA commissioner Chito Salud gleefully announced that the tickets for the season opener, which pits newcomers KIA, with playing coach Manny Pacquiao in tow, and Blackwater, followed by the clash between Talk ‘N Text and crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra, is almost sold out.
“I am happy to report that our opening for the PBA’s 40th season this Sunday is being met with enthusiastic response from our fans,” Salud said.
“I have been informed that 80 percent of the venue tickets have been sold, translating to some 35,000 fans already confirmed to attend. This is a huge number by any measure that can only become bigger as we get closer to opening day.”
Salud added, “But more than the numbers, we in the PBA feel privileged to have this opportunity to give our fans a treat – fans whose unwavering support have brought PBA to where it is today. Maraming dapat pasalamatan pagdating sa istorya ng PBA at ang nasa katuktukan nito ay ang ating mga fans.”
The opening ceremonies at the Philippine Arena will be the first sporting event to be held at the world’s largest mixed use arena.
Last year, the PBA opened the season in three separate venues – in Luzon (Smart Araneta Coliseum), Visayas (Cebu) and Mindanao (Davao) – drawing a combined opening day crowd of over 30,000.
(RL)
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