SBP looks to surpass FIBA gate record on World Cup opening day

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is hopeful it can eclipse the gate attendance record of FIBA, and maybe even the PBA, when it hosts the 2023 World Cup opening ceremony on August 25.

Deputy event director Erika Dy said 28,000 tickets have already been sold for the opening festivities set to be staged at the Philippine Arena, which has a seating capacity of 55,000.

This is close to the standing 32,616 gate attendance record of FIBA in 1994 in Toronto, Canada, when a powerhouse US team led by Shaquille O'Neal and Reggie Miller routed Russia to win the championship.

"I do believe that we will surpass it. The number is actually 32,616 and we should note, however, that even if the capacity of the arena is 55,000, with the unique set-up that is required of us, the seats are down to 46,000," Dy said during the PSA Forum on Tuesday at the Meralco Function Hall.

"That being said, we do count everybody who’s accredited so every warm body inside the stadium is going to be counted so that includes the press, the media, all the offices, [and] the working group."

SBP president Al Panlilio is also upbeat that the opening ceremonies, which will be attended by star-studded performers like Sarah Geronimo and Ben and Ben band, can also contend with the current PBA gate record of 54,589, which the league attained during the Game 7 of the 2023 Commissioner's Cup finals in January 2023.

"Ang gusto ko ngang makita is if we can breach the 50,000-mark ng gate attendance sa PBA. We want to achieve a 50,000-mark," Panlilio bared.

("What I want to see is if we can breach the 50,000-mark gate attendance of the PBA. We want to achieve a 50,000 mark.")

"The entire FIBA Central Board is gonna watch and Dirk Nowitzki said he will be here on the opening day. That’s the reason why we decided to still keep the opening day at the Philippine Arena. That’s the objective."

Gilas will play Dominican Republic on August 25 in front of the home crowd to kick off its World Cup campaign while the battle between Angola and Italy will serve as the opening salvo.

"I think we are really primed to beat that record. In terms of ticket sales, we are about at 28,000 right now so very close to the goal, but not yet there. We have 10 more days to sell," added Dy.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News