Some parade enthusiasts were observed camping outside ticket distribution outlets from as early as 2:30 pm on Sunday.
The Boxing Day Junkanoo celebration is 12 days away.
“Definitely all of the tickets will be sold over the next few days,” said C3 Seating Company Limited spokesman Peter Adderley.
“The first few hours have gone very well. We have received an incredible response. We’ve had persons who slept on the steps of the Kendal G. L. Isaacs Gymnasium from late last night up. A line started to form at about three this morning.”
C3 Seating has been contracted to provide seating this year, unlike in previous years, when the government did so, settling for a 10 per cent royalty payment over the five-year life of the agreement.
When The Guardian news team arrived at the Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium outlet, some 200 people were observed enduring the morning draft and cool winds.
Late start
Michael Jones was one of several persons who slept under the ticket window for nearly 19 hours. Expressing annoyance that ticket sales did not start until an hour after the scheduled time, he said,
“I thought that the ticket people could have been a little more organized. I felt that last year it was much more organized. They were selling tickets faster and it was a smoother process. They started selling tickets like eight o’clock, but this year tickets didn’t get selling until nine.”
He said that the process appeared to have been slowed due to salespersons experiencing computer problems and last-minute seating arrangements.
A 10-ticket limit was reportedly placed on individual purchasers, Mr Adderley said, in order to “avoid any sort of blockage or give a disadvantage to another individual.”
‘Hot cakes’
Last year, tickets were priced at $100 and $75 for Rawson Square; this year, tickets have been substantially reduced, with some locations priced as low as $5, for Shirley Street. V.I.P. seats, however, are $65 and $75.
Those tickets priced at $5 are “going like hot cakes,” said Mr. Adderley.
Tickets for last week’s Junior Junkanoo parade were sold out by 8 p.m. Thursday, with patrons still badgering salespersons for tickets about two hours after the parade had started on Bay Street.
No ‘overbooking’
Acknowledging that there were some glitches, a spokesman for C3 Seating said, “We think while the process is going very smooth, for anxious persons, who, for example, have to get back to work, the line never goes fast enough. Basically, that implies that ticket sales are going very well and the process is very smooth. If there is any effort necessary to quicken the pace we will explore it.
Outlining some of the difficulties involved in ensuring adequate accommodation for persons wishing to attend the parades, he said, “We are faced with the reality that with the population of around 190,000, and when you consider the demand coming from the Family Islands, there would only be a little over 11 to 12,000 seats. So, when you look at those figures you could understand the anxiety and the frustration of ticket buyers. We could only sell as much tickets as we have seats.”
This year, despite limited space, more seats will be made available with new six-row bleachers, obtained fro two Canadian companies replacing the previously used 5-row designs.
Standing on tradition
Free, standing room will also be provided, Mr. Adderley said, noting that, “When we were working on a diagram for the placement of the bleachers, we ensured that there was some standing room within eye view of the parade, so that those persons who cannot afford five dollars or for the traditionalist who feel that Junkanoo should be free.”
Tickets can also be purchased at the Galleria Cinema in the Mall at Marathon, Cable Beach and Paradise Island hotels, and also online at www.junkanoo.com.
With Junkanoo tickets officially going on sale at 8 am Monday, some parade enthusiasts were observed camping outside ticket distribution outlets from as early as 2:30 pm on Sunday.
By Khashan Poitier, The Nassau Guardian
