By Duncan Mackay 

Baku 2015 chief operating officer Simon Clegg is promising to come up with a ticketing strategy that ensures full stadia at the first ever European Games next year ©Baku 2015Ticket prices for next year's European Games in Baku will be kept as low as possible to try to ensure full venues, chief operating officer Simon Clegg has promised. 


Today marks 300 days until the opening of the first-ever European Games on June 12, 2015, and a ticketing strategy is now being worked on for the event which will feature 6,000 athletes from 49 countries competing in 19 sports. 

"There are a number of challenges for us," Clegg told insidethegames.

"We are selling a concept no-one knows about that.

There's never been a previous European Games, so selling tickets in that context is challenging.

"We need to make sure we get the ticket price at absolutely the right level so that we can guarantee full stadia.

"This is a challenge that faces every Organising Committee."

Today marks 300 days until the start of the inaugural European Games in Baku ©Baku 2015Today marks 300 days until the start of the inaugural European Games in Baku ©Baku 2015

Azerbaijan, however, has an advantage because the energy-rich country has more resources than most other nations and can aim to keep prices low. 

"We have taken a very modest view of the level of revenue that we can expect to generate from ticket sales," Clegg told insidethegames.

"Perhaps, in that regard, we are not under the same pressure that previous Organising Committees might have been.

"I'm very comfortable in the general direction that we are heading, not only in terms of venue ticket, prices but ceremony ticket prices.

"I think this will be a major step forward in helping fill stadia.

"Of course, on the back of that we need to run a major advertising and marketing campaign locally here which is being planned at the moment.

"But tickets will not go on sale until much nearer the Games."

Empty seats in the sponsor stands at London 2012 caused anger among members of the public unable to buy tickets ©Getty ImagesEmpty seats in the sponsor stands at London 2012 caused anger among members of the public unable to buy tickets ©Getty Images

Greek company Tickethour, established in 2005 by three senior figures from Athens 2004, has been appointed by Baku 2015 as the official ticketing partner.

Clegg is also promising an innovative approach to trying to ensure that areas for sponsors, athletes and the media are not left empty, which has led to criticism at other major events, most recently London 2012. 

"There are always problems with the VIP seating," said Clegg. 

"Not being constrained by history we are trying to be a little bit creative in terms of what we do to make sure they are full."

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