(Observer Network News) Argentine star Messi said he missed the Hong Kong exhibition match due to injury, but turned around and flexibly controlled the ball in Tokyo, Japan, causing an uproar. In recent days, many fans have complained to the Hong Kong SAR Customs and Consumer Council about this matter, hoping that the organizers can provide reasonable explanations and compensation.
Comprehensive reports from Hong Kong Dagong Wenhui.com, Dian News and others on the 7th, some Hong Kong media revealed that the organizer of Miami International's Hong Kong trip paid as much as 6.5 million US dollars in appearance fees for the event, accounting for about half of the ticket revenue.
Hong Kong media found that tickets for the Inter Miami Japan Tour are much cheaper than those in Hong Kong. Japanese media also reported that the attendance rate for the Tokyo exhibition game that day was less than half, and the cheapest tickets still had tickets available until the start of the game. "(This time) Messi is here, but the fans are not," the Japanese sports news website "victory" wrote.
Angry fans broke Messi's advertising billboard. Picture from Hong Kong media
According to reports, Tatler Asia, the organizer of the Hong Kong exhibition match, is an old fashion magazine originating from the United Kingdom. Its Asian headquarters is registered in Hong Kong, China. It mainly operates magazines, websites and electronics. Business and other business, hosting large-scale sports events is the first time.
Hong Kong media broke the news that in the contract signed by Tatler Asia with Miami International, the appearance fee was as high as US$6.5 million, which is equivalent to approximately HK$50.83 million. A total of 38,000 tickets were sold for the game, with prices ranging from HK$880 to HK$4,888. The total ticket revenue is estimated to be between HK$90 million and 120 million. This means that even without other commercial sponsorships, appearance fees alone account for almost half of ticket revenue.
Hong Kong Legislative Council Member (Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publishing) Fok Qigang also said a few days ago that he learned that Tatler Asia has hired at least 6 companies to sponsor the event, and the sponsorship is estimated to be expensive. There are also rumors that Tatler Asia previously held a meeting with Miami International stars, and the admission fee was HK$150,000.
Dagongwenhui.com also mentioned that the ticket prices for the Miami International Japan Tour are much cheaper than those in Hong Kong. Tickets for tickets in the front row of the center, facing the team when they line up, are the highest at 45,000 yen (approximately HK$2,373), which is cheaper than the ticket price in the middle of the third floor of the Hong Kong Stadium (HK$2,980) and not as good as Hong Kong Half of the most expensive ticket at the station (4880 Hong Kong dollars).
In addition, the Japanese station has also set up a "special experience package". One of the "sky-high price packages" priced at 3 million yen (about 158,000 Hong Kong dollars) guarantees that fans can "meet Messi."
However, Japanese media such as "Sports News" found that on the day of the exhibition match, more than half of the 67,750-seat auditorium at the Tokyo National Arena was empty. Only 28,614 people attended the game, and the attendance rate was less than half. Tickets are still on sale until the day of the game, and the cheapest adult ticket of 10,000 yen (approximately HK$525.91) still has many tickets left.
Japanese media analyzed that ticket sales for the game were dismal. In addition to factors such as Messi not being popular enough to support the game and the game being held on a working day, more Japanese fans believed that ticket prices were too high.
Japanese netizens said "the stands are empty"
Hong Kong media also reported that as of 12 noon on the 8th, the Hong Kong SAR Consumer Council had received a total of 1,004 related complaints, of which 816 were local consumer complaints and 188 were tourist complaints. , involving a total amount of HK$6.93 million, the average amount involved in each case was HK$6,904, and the highest complaint case involved HK$82,000.
Consumer Council Director General Huang Fengxian said that they have not yet received a reply from the organizer Tatler Asia. The association is integrating the complaint numbers and contacting the complainants to provide information. She once again called on fans to keep ticket stubs and all transaction records for follow-up.
Today (8th), Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions Legislative Council member Tang Ka-piu and several district councilors went to the Small Claims Tribunal to demand that the organizer, Tatler Asia, refund the money to the nearly 40,000 spectators who bought tickets that day within a week. He will apologize to the affected consumers and fans and disclose more details of the negotiations with Inter Miami, otherwise he will initiate civil proceedings on behalf of consumers to recover losses.
Deng Jiabiao believes that the magnetic resonance imaging of Messi shows that he is not injured and can compete in Japan vigorously. His performance is difficult to be linked to injury or inability to play, and is inconsistent with the organizer's statement.He said that Tatler Asia has the responsibility to explain to the affected consumers and fans, including disclosing the agreement with Inter Miami, to protect consumers' reasonable rights and rights to know.
Kwun Tong District Councilor Yu Shaolun also said that Messi's "freedom" is unfair to citizens who bought tickets with real money, and called on those affected to proactively contact the Federation of Trade Unions team to defend consumer rights.
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