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As a Rabbitohs fan there should be very little for me to be upset about so far in the 2013 NRL season. Sitting on top of the ladder and almost locked in a top four berth.
And perhaps, perhaps we are on our way to a grand final for the first time since 1971…a full 18 years before I was born!
That was, until the ticket prices for the 2013 decider were announced a few days ago:
Diamond
$345
Platinum
$285
Gold
Adult $225
Concession $210
Child $195
Family $645
Silver
Adult $165
Concession $120
Child $95
Family $425
Bronze
Adult $80
Concession $60
Child $50
Family $215
Just a slight increase from last year, where the most expensive tickets were $200!
I’m also a huge football fan and have been looking at World Cup tickets for next year; something is certainly not right when I can sit in the ‘Diamond’ section at a quarter-final in Brazil for less than I could at this year’s’ NRL decider.
As one of my friends pointed out, sitting behind the dead ball line on level six should never at any point be labelled a ‘Platinum’ location.
That row of green up there in the 600s? $285. Absolutely ridiculous.
And yes, I’m aware that the prices have been jacked up so as to be similar to the AFL grand final, but as Rabbitohs CEO Shane Richardson said, the price increase should have been more gradual rather than almost a 100% increase on 2012.
Not only have the prices gone up, but the seats have been re-categorised.
The area behind the goals that is this year labelled as ‘Silver’ was category four last year, the equivalent of ‘Bronze’.
And the $345 Diamond seats simply didn’t exist.
I can’t help but wonder if the current NRL ladder played a more than substantial role in this increase – do you think if the Cowboys and Storm were first and second that people would be knocking down the door to get tickets?
No. The NRL have identified that the most likely outcome this season is the Rabbitohs and Roosters facing off, a match-up so enticing that could possibly only be topped in terms of people wanting tickets by the Bunnies facing off against the Bulldogs or Dragons.
I hate to go back to FIFA again, but for all their faults, the ticketing of next year’s cup is more than fair.
They’ve identified that people will already be gouged out of their skin for accommodation and flights, and have priced tickets to the matches themselves at a more than reasonable rate.
My entire match tickets combined will cost less than a one-way flight to Brazil, and that’s even if I were to go to the final itself!
Switch back to the NRL, replace accommodation with food and drink and flights with merchandise. It’s an expensive day out for families, especially if you want to get there early and watch all the matches, not just the main event.
I’ve already read several statements from people on a popular rugby league forum who attend the event every year, but won’t be going in 2013.
Why would you, if your team wasn’t playing?
And this is where the difference lies between the NRL and AFL. Regardless of who is playing, demand for tickets to the AFL grand final is gigantic.
AFL crowds are as a whole a lot higher than those of the NRL and quite simply, more of their fans go to games.
If you’re an NRL administrator, there are a lot of things to try and emulate from the AFL.
But inflated ticket prices are not one of them – again, what if Souths and the Roosters choke in the semis and the finale is the (currently) third placed Storm against eighth placed Raiders?
Good luck selling those ‘Platinum’ seats on level six for that blockbuster.
We already complain how expensive every other aspect of going to a rugby league match is.
I get by because I don’t drink at the football, I bring food from home and I haven’t bought a new jersey since 2008.
The one thing even the most fiscally responsible fan can’t live without is a ticket to the match itself.
So while in a couple of months’ time every long-suffering Rabbitohs supporter should be gearing up for their first grand final since colour television was invented, many will be left out in the cold because they simply can’t afford it.
An ANZ Stadium seating plan for the 2013 NRL Grand Final. (Image: Ticketek).
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