The fan’s guide to snagging tickets for the Suzuki Cup semis

MANILA, Philippines – Seating areas at the Rizal Memorial Stadium are slowly selling out as the Philippines’ 2012 Suzuki Cup semi-finals match against Singapore draws near.

The 1st leg of the semis, set for Saturday, December 8 at 8pm, is the first time that the Philippines will be able to host a Suzuki Cup semi-final. The tournament’s home-and-away final rounds format allows the two teams competing to play one leg on their home soil, and the other at their opponent’s.

While the Azkals made the semi-finals in 2010, the Philippines was deprived of hosting the home leg after the Asian Football Federation (AFF) decided that there was no venue in the Philippines that fit its standards, thus holding both legs in Indonesia.

This year however, fans will be able to enjoy watching the team in Manila and the players will have the opportunity to play in front of the country in the first leg. The second leg will be held in Singapore on December 12.

Our tip? Bring friends, bring flags, and bring your full on support and help cheer the team to victory.

Here’s what fans need to know to snag tickets and witness the game that will help determine whether or not the Philippines will make it all the way to the finals for the first time in the country’s history:

1) Prices

Ticket prices range from about P300 to P3000.

Below are the prices for the stadium’s seats. Note that as of Tuesday, December 4, the white bleachers and the center lower grand stand, the best seats in the house, have been sold out according to the Philippine Football Federation:

Blue and green bleachers – P320.16
White bleachers – P533.60 SOLD OUT
Side upper grand stand – P1067.20
Side lower grand stand and center upper grand stand – P2134.40
Center lower grand stand – P3201.60 SOLD OUT

Here’s how the stadium looks so you can choose the seats that fit you best:

2) How to have ticket reservations delivered to you

For fans who want to have their ticket reservation delivered to their doorsteps, all they need to do is buy their tickets online at Ticketworld and follow the steps below:

After online purchase, you must send a copy of two government-issued IDs with clear photo and signature, and a clear copy of the front and back of the credit card you used to purchase the tickets.

Send the documents via fax to 632-891-5634, or email them to tickets@ticketworld.com.ph — but don’t forget to erase the credit card’s first 12 digits and the security number before faxing!

Here’s the tricky part though: the Game Ticket Reservation you get in the mail is NOT your official ticket. Because the official tickets are printed by Thai Ticket Master, you will need to claim your official ticket by presenting your ticket reservation in order to enter the premises.

To claim your official ticket, present your ticket reservation to the Philippine Football Federation at 27 Danny Floro corner Capt. Henry Javier Sts., Pasig City between Tuesday, December 4 to Friday, December 7, from 11am-8pm. Or you can claim it on game day itself at the venue.

3) How to reserve tickets for pick-up and how to claim them

Fans who want to make sure they secure a ticket before they run out can reserve tickets through the internet, and pick them up later.

Once you go online to Ticketworld and purchase a ticket, you will be issued a confirmation voucher or order number.

Print this out and bring it to the Philippine Football Federation at 27 Danny Floro corner Capt. Henry Javier Sts., Pasig City between Tuesday, December 4 to Friday, December 7, from 11am-8pm. They will give you your official ticket in exchange for your voucher. 

You can also claim your official tickets at the venue on game day.

4) How to buy tickets in person

You can reserve tickets in advance by going to any Ticketworld outlet yourself, or by going to the Philippine Football Federation (PFF).

A special booth will be set up at PFF for ticket purchase between Tuesday, December 4 to Friday, December 7, from 11am-8pm but only for bleacher seats.

If you plan to purchase with a credit card at the Ticketworld outlet, make sure you also have at least two government-issued IDs with photo and your signature. Make sure the card user’s IDs and credit card signatures match!

Note that if you go to a Ticketworld outlet though, you will still only get a ticket reservation and will still need to exchange this for an official ticket before you can get into the stadium. To claim your ticket, present your Game Ticket Reservation either at the PFF during the same dates and hours above, or claim it at the venue on game day.

Of course, you may also buy tickets at the venue itself on the day of the event, although we can’t assure you that your tickets of choice – if any – will still be available by then.

5) Other discounts

Some fans may also avail of special discounts, although these offers are not available on internet purchase. To avail of the following, you must visit a TicketWorld outlet and present your ID.

Senior citizens and persons with disabilities can get 20% off. Diplomats are also exempted from VAT, but this discount is exclusive for the ID holder and not his or her family members.

No student discounts are available for this match. – Rappler.com