Up to 20,000 seats are unfilled for the upcoming celebratory Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Test between England and New Zealand, according to a report from The Telegraph.
The commemorative Test is set to be held at Lord’s but even with a new captain at the helm in the form of Ben Stokes, ticket sales have been sluggish.
According to the report from The Telegraph, England supporters said that it was mostly down to the price of tickets, particularly during a cost-of-living crisis across the UK. For example, the most readily-available under-16 ticket seems to be £136 ($171/€160) but Lord’s owner MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) says that prices for children are between £20 and £40.
Chris Millard, managing director of the Barmy Army fan group, said: “We do not get tickets at Lord’s as a group, but speaking to a lot of people who go every year they have been put off due to price and the cost-of-living crisis.”
The MCC later said in a statement to The Telegraph that ticket prices were “between £50 and £160 for adults, and between £20 and £40 for under-16s in certain categories, for the opening three days of the match”.
On the fourth and fifth day, tickets for adults and concessions are much cheaper.
The statement added: “MCC has undertaken significant reorganisation of its ticket pricing for international matches in recent years, recognising the exceptional demand for tickets that Test matches at Lord’s are expected to generate.
“With The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee double bank holiday weekend also taking place, we have seen a reduction in our usual expected attendance numbers. However, sales remain strong for the opening two days of the match and across our other international fixtures this year, with our India ODI being sold out.
“Whilst we recognise that the top price tickets available are at a premium price, we believe that across the whole ground, this represents good value to watch top-class international cricket at one of the world’s most iconic sporting venues, with many pricing points available. Furthermore, there are opportunities to watch cricket at Lord’s to suit many budgets in 2022.
“Adult tickets in The Hundred begin at £10, with tickets for Under-16s priced at £5. The England v India Women’s One-Day International sees all adult tickets priced at £25, and Under-16s also at £5, whilst Vitality Blast tickets begin at £20 for adults and £10 for Under-16s.”
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