The TNM Super League match between Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers grossed K8.3 million (about $20 000) on Saturday, a record for a domestic match at Kamuzu Stadium in recent years.
Huge turn-up and hiked gate charges must have contributed to the increased earnings despite that three firms earmarked for outsourcing gate collections were not ready to do the job.
The stadium now seats 17 000.
Super League of Malawi general secretary Williams Banda had earlier given the two teams up to Thursday to outsource the game or have it shifted to another venue.
“It was not outsourced. They agreed at their meeting that they should call for expression of interest and choose some for the exercise. So far, three companies have applied,” said Banda.
The gate charges were hiked from K200 (about 47 cents), K500 ($1.19), K1 000 ($2.38) and K2 000 ($4.76) to K5 000 ($11), K1 000, K2 000 and K5 000 for open terraces, MBC stand, Covered Stand and the VIP Stand respectively.
The improved collections had Bullets and Wanderers, who drew 1-1 during the game each getting K2 million (about $4 761), a similar amount (K2 million) went to ground owners Ministry of Youth and Sports, while FAM and Sulom pocketed K431 000 (about $1 026) each.
Sports Council also went home with K240 000 (about $571) with police being paid K345 000 (about $821), stewards K400 000 (about $952). Cashiers and supervisors drawn from either side earned K750 000 (about $1 785).
The closest Bullets and Wanderers have earned more was when they raked in K6.7 million (about $15 952) during a Carlsberg Cup semi-final played at Silver Stadium last September.
