Madam, – I share the incredulity of other correspondents (August 20th) regarding the ticket prices for Ireland’s upcoming rugby internationals.
To provide some context, an adult ticket for the upcoming Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup match between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney can be obtained for as little as AUD$89 (€62), with no obligation to buy tickets for more than one match. Family tickets, which admit two adults and two children, are available for $200 (€140). A family of the same description wishing to attend a Six Nations match at Aviva Stadium would have to pay double that per match, and has no choice but to sign up for both home matches at a total cost of €560. When it comes to friendlies, the disparity becomes even greater – tickets for the recent Australia versus Ireland game in Brisbane were available for $35 (€24).
Of course, some may argue that I’m not comparing like with like, and I suppose they’re right. The Tri Nations series involves the top three teams in the world, as opposed to the Six Nations, which involves teams ranked between 4th and 11th. Australia is the only country in the Western world that avoided recession recently, as opposed to Ireland which has been affected by one of the worst recessions in the history of any first world country. Australia has a much bigger population to draw on. Australia Rugby gets much less TV revenue than the IRFU does.
All of these factors would suggest that, if anything, Australia Rugby could justify charging higher prices than the IRFU, rather than the other way around. However, the reality is that if tickets were priced at such an extortionate level here, no one would buy them. I hope the Irish rugby faithful take the same view and teach the IRFU a harsh lesson.
What a shame that the opening of this long-awaited new stadium should be overshadowed by such greed. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Over 20 years of attending Irish rugby matches in Dublin, the only tickets costing €100 or more that I have come across, with the exception of premium seats, have been those offered by touts. I have always declined the offer. I will continue to support my national side by attending the away fixtures for which I have never paid more than €50 for a ticket. – Yours, etc,