Ireland Ticket Information

It is accessible primarily to the elite, and that's largely not even down to the high price. Ireland rugby games (bar that one lower-tier opposition game in the Autumn) are largely only accessible to those through 25 year tickets, debentures, corporate access, sponsors, knowing someone who has a ticket, spending on a fortune on second-hand tickets, spending a fortune on hospitality tickets or being in a relatively small percentage of people who find tickets that are available 'to the public' because its inarguable that international rugby games are one of the most closed-shop sports going.

I appreciate that's a different argument than the one we're having over price but access to Ireland rugby games is objectively a very difficult thing to gain access to. By and large, you do have to be in the elite to access the game. If one of your friends said he wanted to bring his kid to a game, odds are you're going to say he has little to no chance to attend.

That's exactly my point though. The idea that matches are only accessible to the elite is nonsense. They're expensive but they're not exactly Superbowl pricing either. The vast majority who want to spend that, can.

Referencing the most expensive sporting event in the world doesn't make for a great argument. Let's make fairer comparisons. A Champions League Final ticket costs as low as €70 - the biggest club football game in the world. An FA Cup Final ticket costs €50. A centre court ticket for Wimbledon can cost as low as €90. A Category 1 ticket for the Champions Cup Final is €120. It is vastly overpriced.

But a poster above says that most of the country has to spend €850 per couple on a trip to a 6N game. In a best-case scenario and ticket prices are slashed, the cost of that trip comes down to €800.

Again, picking the most expensive example. I live in Dublin and it would cost me probably €400 all-in to attend a game with my other half. So yeah, knocking €50 off that would make a difference.

And similar to other posters, I 'can' afford it but choose not to go anymore because its a rip-off but as you've pointed out it'll still sell out because most people just shrug and take it.

No, I didn't. Another poster claimed that "most of the country" had to pay €850 per couple. I absolutely agree it's not accurate, but you can take it up with him tbh.

It's not really what I was getting at. Your argument was that knocking €50 off the price of tickets inferred that it's somewhat meaningless, using the €850 example. Mine was that if you use the €400 example for someone in Dublin, it is meaningful.

It has always been thus and it is unrelated to price. You did, however, omit the people who get tickets through their local clubs which is a significant proportion.

Yes of course. So for those people add around €300 per annum (based on my club) to have a chance of access. Furthering the "ya gotta have money" narrative as well as the 'knowing someone' argument as a lot of clubs operate on references.

yeah that was kind of the point. Like, when someone says "it's not brain surgery", you're not actually comparing something with brain surgery.

That's fair enough and I know what you were trying to say but the Superbowl is one of few examples (vs. the other side of the coin), of a more expensive sporting event. Irish rugby is by far the most expensive and exclusive sports (and possibly more expensive that most music gigs, which whilst not directly relevant is interesting) to attend in Ireland. So in terms of Irish sports and events, it actually is 'brain surgery' or Superbowl prices comparatively.

But here's the thing… it doesn't make any odds to UEFA. The TV rights for the Champions League alone, in just the five biggest European markets, are €2.5 billion per year. Add in the rest of the world, sponsorship, ticket sales, whatever… They could give all the final tickets away for free, or they could charge €1000 euro for the worst seats in the house, and it's still just a rounding error in their accounts.

Sure, but were they charging extortionate prices when they weren't rolling it? I doubt it. The ECPR desperately needs money too and they're not charging extortionate costs.

Jaysus the irfu are infallible to some

Can't criticise the irfu for a Friday night games, (fair enough the winter Olympics were starting hence the Thurs),

Nothing wrong with the pricing from the poster who doesnt pay for a ticket....I ain't buying it 😁...pardon the pun