Beenie Man - File

With prices for the next staging of Rum Punch almost slashed in half, promoter Desmond 'Hard Ears' Steele is expecting a massive crowd on Sunday, June 24.

In previous years, the cost to enter the event averaged around $2,500, but, for this staging, the event's price has been reduced significantly. Presold tickets will cost $1,000 and patrons can pay $2,000 at the gate after 6 p.m. Three females will also be able to enter the event for $1,000, but this will only be the case for presold tickets.

"Because of Jamaica 50, we have slashed our prices in half. We have returned to our roots. It used to be a party where you pay $500 to get in and $50 for drinks. We kinda lost our way when we turned it into an all-inclusive party. We lost some of our core crowd," he told THE STAR.

bumper crowd

"As a business person, you want to get maximum crowd. A dollar is a dollar wherever it comes from. We don't want to cater to people that just come and stand up. We want people who want to party," he said.

Despite expecting a bumper crowd, Steele said he is also looking forward to an incident-free event.

"The Half-Way Tree police are always at hand. We have beefed up security and we have all the ends covered. I don't think we are going to get a rowdy crowd, and we are not going to overpack the venue," he said, boasting that for the 20 years of hosting events they have been incident free.

In addition to the low prices, Steele says there will be some new offerings like a pool inside the venue and a 100-feet bar for easy access to drinks. Women will also be getting a treat at the Campari Red Passion District bar, which will have male strippers serving only women. The event that will be held between 2 p.m. and midnight will also have disc jocks like ZJ Liquid, Coppershot, ZJ Bambino, Supa Hype, Chromatic, Flabba Dabba, Jamrock and Magnum Energy Jocks.

"I am expecting it to be the best event to start the summer, and I know that there will be a lot of celebrities passing through this event. It is Rum Punch and we intend to keep that brand alive. It might sound like a cheap party, but we are going to give you one of the most fantastic parties in terms of the top-of-the-line decor, best selectors and liquor," Steele said, adding that there will also be a detox bar.