LOSS LIKELY ON GAMES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27424, 10 August 1954, Page 13

LOSS LIKELY ON GAMES

TAKINGS AMOUNT TO 350,000 DOLLARS . Press Assoctation—CopyripHt) VANCOUVER. August 8. Mr Sam Rosen, Vancouver’s Empire Games ticket sales organiser, said this morning: “We will probably lose 10.000 to 15,000 dollars on the Games. The takings were a litthe more than 350.000 Canadian dollars.” Mr Rosen said it had been a big task selling tickets to Vancouw people, who have never seen star athletes in action before, and were uncertain whether it would be worth while to attend. “After the mile Anal, the marathon and other finals. I say we could fill the stadium (it holds 35,000) on each day of the Games. “Unfortunately it has taken a week to make the citizens sports-minded.” he said. Twenty-five thousand attended the opening ceremony, but only a little more than 30,000, less than the gate on Saturday, attended the first three days of the athletics. In Auckland four years ago, a 40,000 capacity crowd attended on most days, with many unable to gain admittance. The swimming in Vancouver had a sell-out on two days, and the cycling was popular, but other sports had little support.