**Rugby Enthusiasts Hit with High Ticket Prices for Lions Squad Announcement**
Rugby fans hoping to witness the much-anticipated British and Irish Lions squad announcement in person next week will need to brace themselves for some eye-watering costs, as ticket prices for the live event in London have sparked dismay across the rugby community.
The announcement, a major event in the rugby calendar, is set to take place at Indigo, a prominent venue within the iconic O2 Arena complex. The occasion will not only reveal the full touring party heading Down Under for the summer series in Australia, but will also name the team’s captain, with head coach Andy Farrell at the helm as he attempts to mastermind a victorious Lions campaign against the Wallabies.
While the event offers fans a unique opportunity to be at the heart of the action, the costs involved have led to accusations of pricing out the average supporter. Early access to tickets was initially provided to members of the Lions Rugby Club, with the remainder distributed by lottery before being put on general sale through ticketing platform AXS. However, despite these phased releases, a significant number of seats remain available — a sign, perhaps, of the public’s reaction to the pricing structure.
Fans looking for a regular floor seat will be met with a price tag of £53.59. This amount, more than double the cheapest tickets for England’s upcoming home encounter against Six Nations champions France at Twickenham, has been met with widespread criticism. But the costs do not end there. Attendees must also pay a £2.50 transaction fee, a £2.50 venue charge, and a further £6.60 booking surcharge, with each applied per ticket rather than per order, pushing the final price of a single floor ticket up to an astonishing £65.19.
For those wishing to bring along a fellow rugby lover, the bill swiftly doubles, with two tickets setting fans back a hefty £127.88— a sum that for many eclipses the cost of attending a major international rugby fixture, let alone a squad unveiling.
There are other seating options, but none offer much respite from the financial sting. Premium “Golden Circle” floor tickets are listed at £59.10 before fees, while balcony seats start at £42.40, again exclusive of the additional surcharges that increase the final amount payable. For a family of four, even the cheapest balcony seats could mean an outlay of over £200 once all service charges are considered.
With Indigo’s capacity at just over 2,000, officials might have hoped for rapid ticket sales and a packed house. However, with many tickets still clearly unsold, questions are being asked about the wisdom of setting such high prices, especially during a period of financial uncertainty for many supporters.
For those unable or unwilling to fork out, there are thankfully alternative ways to join in. The announcement will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, bringing the excitement into fans’ living rooms across the UK and Ireland. The televised programme promises guest appearances and real-time reactions from top Premiership Rugby and United Rugby Championship players, aiming to maintain the sense of occasion for those following from afar.
In an official statement, Lions CEO Ben Calveley highlighted the importance of including all fans, both at home and abroad: “Taking place at Indigo at The O2, this will be our biggest and most special squad announcement yet. We are delighted to see record numbers of fans travelling to Australia this summer. We also know there are millions of fans at home who want to be brought closer to the action, and this unique event gives them that chance.”
His remarks, while positive, have done little to dampen the frustrations of supporters who feel that ticket prices for such an announcement risk leaving ordinary fans on the sidelines. As with much in top-class sport, the balance between exclusivity and accessibility remains a challenge for organisers.
With this summer’s Lions tour already generating huge excitement and a sea of red expected to follow the squad to Australia, the legendary team’s loyal travelling support is unlikely to be diminished. Yet for many back home, the squad announcement is a reminder that being part of the action can come with a hefty price in more ways than one.
As the event date approaches, attention will likely turn to how many fans are willing to pay the premium to be in the room for one of rugby’s most eagerly awaited announcements—and whether the tickets left unsold serve as a wake-up call to sporting bodies seeking to maintain engagement with the wider rugby family.