More than $260 million in hospitality packageshave already been sold for the 2014 World Cup, equaling the total revenuegenerated by the hospitality program for the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
FIFA partner MATCH Hospitality AG, the worldwide exclusiverights holder of the program, said on Tuesday it surpassed its sales targets inthe first seven months since the packages were put on sale.
"The very positive market sentiment is testimony to theextraordinary appeal which the unique combination of Brazil and FIFA's flagshipcompetition offers," said Jaime Byrom, MATCH Hospitality's executivechairman.
The company said some of its packages were sold out in SaoPaulo, site of the World Cup opener, and were almost sold out in Rio de Janeiro,home of the final at Maracana.
It said packages specific for the matches played by theBrazilian national team also were snapped up in all categories.
MATCH Hospitality is offering three separate categories ofhospitality packages and five unique products to "suit the needs andexpectations of corporate clients, groups and families."
"Services will range from private dining and businessto business platforms to informal settings for groups and families," thecompany said in a statement.
It said its high-end package called Aquarela, which givescustomers access to luxury private suites for 19 matches being played in thecities of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte, is nearly sold-out. Theopening match with Brazil, the final and the two semifinals are included in thepackage, which costs more than $1 million.
MATCH Hospitality AG said nearly 90,000 packages in totalhave already been sold, accounting for $262 million.
"The domestic Brazilian market has immeasurablepotential," said Pascal Portes, chief operating officer for MATCHHospitality. "There are still a very large number of companies andindividuals which have shown interest but have yet to place orders."
General public tickets will be sold beginning in 2013. Thetournament draw is expected to take place in December this year.
Before the 2010 World Cup, FIFA only half of the VIP ticketshad been sold and Secretary General Jerome Valcke said at the time that theeconomic crisis was to blame.
Many in Brazil have criticized the high costs of tickets forthe World Cup and say only the rich will have access to the matches. Formerstar Romario, now a congressman, said recently that the World Cup in Brazilwill be great for those who have money, but the Brazilian poor will be leftout.
FIFA wants to set aside 300,000 tickets for students, theelderly and the poor during the World Cup, each costing about $25, althoughBrazilian law currently allows students and the elderly to have access tohalf-priced tickets in all categories. FIFA will have to negotiate with thelocal government to limit the cheaper tickets at 300,000.