Now that the World Cup season is upon us, it is normal to see football signs everywhere; from billboards to media advertising, heck even on soft drinks and snacks. Business people make use of this time to market their products with football themes.
To add to that, tourism industry do their best to benefit. The assistant general manager of the entertainment center at Serafi Mega Mall says that several programs will be launched to attract customers and tourists. They are charging SR20 for the entrance. Big screens of 103-inches, will display the matches. Saudi families and especially the youths love watching these matches at the malls where they can relax, eat and enjoy the games with friends.
The Mall has arranged two large halls accommodating 250 people each. Even though Saudi Arabia is not in the World Cup matches, this does not pale the enthusiasm nor reduce the excitement in any way. The football mood of youths will no doubt be different to the families so a separate youth entrance has been set up. Families enter through the normal gates.
At events like this, it is quite normal to see to security issues. Needless to say a lot of safety issues are taken into consideration to ensure that nothing disastrous happens. Single men may not be allowed to enter so as to avoid any silly incidents.
Although most of the malls around the country will provide big screens and entertainment for the customers, many may not allow youths to enter in order to maintain a subdued audiences and to avoid any kind of problems that might ensue due to excitement.
Since the Ministry has not set any prices, some coffee shops have not set a price as yet, just waiting to see what would the standard fee be. Some may even offer free viewing on large screens outside of the shops. Chamber of Commerce, Jeddah has said that no prices are fixed and cafes have a right to increase prices.
It is true that customers and tourists will be a business boom for the malls and shops but to set up an appropriate environment, gigantic screens, decors, seating, food and other things necessary will be added cost. Of course all these will be covered up in no time if the people find the area comfortable and secure.
The last World Cup that Saudi Arabia has participated was in 2006 in Germany. The country has played every event since 1994, USA.
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