ABC-7 Listens: 01.24.16

crowds? then it will cost you. rick cabrera explains in abc-7 listens. you know the saying … “nothin in life is free.” well … that’s not true when it comes to tickets to see the pope … in person. the key words … in person. the juarez diocese is giving out free tickets to its churches and the dioces in el paso and las cruces. there are less than a quarter million free tickets for 3 events in juarez … and the demand is far greater. if you opt for the live feed at the sun bowl … you’ll need to pay. from alice … “why are the charging people to watch the mass when the pope is giving the mass? “the pope doesn’t want us to do this. explicitly he said no. “whether you have it th sun bowl or wherever this should not be an event that should be charged.” i reached out to elizabeth o’hara, spokeswoman for the el paso catholic diocese. she told me the diocese knows some people won’t be able to get those free tickets while others don’t want to cross the border. so, the diocese started kicking around the idea of having a celebration on this side of the border. “a few weeks ago, about 30,00 parishioners responded to a poll we put in the pew asking where they would like to celebrate this event. the majority voted for the sun bowl. “it’s an ideal location, providing parking, big screen access, restroom facilities as well as other amenities. “as gracious a sun bowl staff has been at accommodating our tight schedule, they simply cannot rent the stadium to us for free. and we understand.” o’hara then went on to say they worked behind the scenes to find a price point that would make sure families don’t have to break the bank and they can cover the cost of the sun bowl rental. tickets are now on sale for the “two nations, one faith” event tickets are $15 dollars … 10 dollars for parishioners. from abe … “the news ha reported to take caution as a scam is going on to ‘sell’ tickets & that the event is ‘free.’ “then we open the sun bowl for folks on this side and all of a sudden we have ‘$15’ dollar tickets! “would’ve been great if abc-7 broadcast it for all in the viewing area!” we are still ironing out the details … but we are planning to bring you coverage from both sides of the border. and as we get closer to the pope’s arrival we’ll share that info with you. rick cabrera. abc-7 listens. for more on the pope’s visit … go to k-v-i-a-dot-com backslash pope.