The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Why are Lions tickets so expensive? The ARU's response

3rd February, 2013
Advertisement
Roar Guru
3rd February, 2013
65
1289 Reads

Earlier in the week I referred to the cost of Lions tickets and why I thought they were outrageous.

The ARU responded to my complaint in a detailed email and the argument was, in a nutshell as follows.

The Lions only come here every 12 years. It is a popular and traditional tour that is surpassed in importance only by the Rugby World Cup.

The matches themselves are considered to be the equivalent of World Cup quarter-finals, therefore the prices are set at the same level.

The email also mentioned that tickets for the last Lions tour in New Zealand were approximately $300.

The final point was that Lions matches which are not ‘Test’ matches, are considerably cheaper.

However, this response is nothing more than most Roarers mentioned anyway. None of the ARU’s responses explain why only such horrible seats were available when sales opened.

But here is the killer, to quote from the ARU email:

Advertisement

“The commercial arrangements for a Lions tour are significantly different to a regular domestic Test.”

“For regular Test matches the ARU retains all commercial revenue, while for the Lions tour we are required to pay a significant fee to the Lions committee plus share commercial properties such as broadcast, sponsorship and hospitality, as well as carry the cost of a five-week Tour.”

In other words ticket prices are so high because we are paying the Lions to come here.

We are paying money to the same hidebound mob that refused to pay their players for over 100 years because money would sully the game.

What rampant hypocrisy from them and forelock tugging greed from the ARU!

It would appear no other country is treated that way.

If the Home Unions can’t afford to come here then don’t come.

Advertisement

It would be a horrible shame if that happened but that’s life. I’m sure there are a lot of good rugby folk who aren’t going to a Lions test because they can’t afford it this year.

The game should not be about charging exorbitant prices for a once-in-12 years event because that is the financial requirement of the Home Union.

It should be about rugby people enjoying rugby in good seats at reasonable prices. The ARU has provided none of this.

The reasons that the ARU have provided are no excuse.

close