How are Springboks ticket prices determined?
Springboks tickets are a hot commodity, and therefore extremely expensive.
Photo: Facebook/Emirates Airline Park/ EPS Precinct
John Perlman speaks to Ellis Park Stadium Managing Director Pieter Burger.
The lack of public broadcasts and high ticket prices have many people questioning whether the Springboks are truly accessible to everyday South Africans.
ALSO READ: SA vs NZ: 4 MILLION watched 1st test-match on SABC, 2nd match inaccessible: Why?
But how are ticket prices determined?
For the Lions Rugby Union (Ellis Park Stadium) prices are determined by several factors: supply and demand, the Consumer Price Index, and the cost to maintain the facility.
Unions also have to pay a ‘guarantee fee’ to host tests.
Burger says while unions set the ticket prices, Springboks test tickets are unfortunately a hot commodity.
“It’s an entertainment industry, it is an extremely competitive game of interest… artists cost money and unfortunately that increase is most certainly CPI (Consumer Price Index) related, most especially if they [players] start getting national honours.”
– Pieter Burger, Managing Director – Ellis Park Stadium
“It is expensive to maintain a facility. To have a pitch, for example, on the quality and standard of World Rugby requires consistent investment in infrastructure.”
– Pieter Burger, Managing Director – Ellis Park Stadium
Even with this in mind, 'out of respect for supporters', Burger says the Lions Rugby Union chose not to increase ticket prices exorbitantly.
“This is regardless of the fact that fixed costs and match expenses had exponentially risen due to the fact that we now have to pay off the top a massive amount of a guarantee [fee] to SA Rugby.”
– Pieter Burger, Managing Director – Ellis Park Stadium
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the discussion.