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Are UK fans getting screwed on ticket prices?

I was considering going to the next RAW taping in manchester, until i saw the price of the tickets. Its 65 quid for the good seats. I think that equates to about 120 dollars. The intermediate seats cost the equivalent of 80 dollars.

Just wondering how that compares to prices around the rest of the world. Are those prices normal, or are we getting stiffed?!

You guys are paying about double what we pay in the States. I have gone to a couple of Raw tapings in Albany N.Y. and paid 40 dollars for intermediate seating. Close enough to feel the heat from Kanes pyros in the ring.

However, I am sure it varies for the distance they have to travel. Im sure people in Hawaii pay a bit more than the continental United States as well.

Albany N.Y. is only about three hours or four driving hours from Titan Sports in Connecticut.

It's more in Australia. There's a Smackdown or Raw show hitting Australia soon. Maybe the other Aussie crew could fill us in.

Tikus

I looked at the ticketek site for the Raw show, and 'more details are coming soon'. I think the cheaper seats are usually at least $30 or something like that...I could be wrong. And I think it depends on the venue, as well. In Sydney, things would be more expensive, because where the shows are held (in the superdome) it's a bigger, newer (only 7 years old) venue than some others in the country. I'll let you know when the prices come out.

Although I have a hard time believing the UK would be worse off than Australia for prices - it's a lot harder to make money from a trip here, because of the distance and the expense of getting everything over here. Grr.

It isn't how close to CT the venue is, it is how much demand there is. They can charge high prices overseas because the demand is higher. They aren't there all the time like they are here so people overseas are usually willing to pay more than we are here.

Too, the cost of travel, lodging, and hiring locals is more so that ups the prices but the real reason is.....because they can change more so they do.

And they never fail to sell out.

Here, they can't give tickets away to most house shows and they rarely sell out an arena unless it is a major PPV in a smaller arena. WM was in a 19,000 seat arena this year. WHY? Because they would rather not risk empty seats and would rather sell out and have people pay $50 a pop to see it on PPV.

I remember when wrestling shows sold out 30, 40 even 50 thousand seat arenas. Not anymore here. But they still do overseas so they charge top dollar and make a bundle.

It will only change when fans don't buy tickets.

Smackdown is coming to the Rose Garden at the end of May. I just might go, and I'll let you know of the ticket prices. I probably won't have to pay because I am going to borrow Patty's media credentials!

~Chris <img src="/images/graemlins/king.gif" alt="" />

Aussie ticket prices.

Front area (first 10 rows or so) are usually around $400 (around $300US), although for Global Warning they were $750 and I believe they've been around the $500 mark for Rod Laver Arena in the past. Next section (most of the first tier and the rest of the floor) are $150 - $200. Then the top tier and a few bits of the first tier are $80 - $100. There is usually a portion of the top tier (usually the last 2 rows and then portions behind the entrance) for around $50-$60. Global warning was the only one I know that had $30 seats (which were top tier behind the entrance), but then again Telstra Dome is a hell of a lot bigger than Rod Laver (56,000 vs 13,000 usual crowd).

I've been to every RAW tour in Melbourne in the same price range ($80-$100), but got first tier seats last time.

Ok I wasn't sure if distance was a factor or not in pricing. I guess what you say, Patty, about the interest level and the hiring of locals makes a lot more sense.

Supply and demand on the tickets. I for one would rather watch it on television than see it live. Have been to several live shows and prefer the convenience of being home watching it. Never have been to a live pay-per-view show and would love to go sometime but until then.....

A good rule of thumb to remember...They charge the maximum the market for that area will allow, taking into consideration they want to fill as many seats as possible.

~Chris <img src="/images/graemlins/king.gif" alt="" />

I'll pay whatever price as I'm a loser fan, so it works here. They sell out or come close to selling out every show they have here with the exception of a few Smackdown tours in 2004.
The usual crowd for Melbourne is 13000-15000, so wrestling tours usually get quite a bit of support. The WWA tour in 2001 or 2002 got a similar amount I'm told.
But the Iinternational Assualt (using ex WWE wrestlers and TNA guys, including Mick Foley as advertised (but cancelled the day before), and the Dudleys & Rhino) only managed to sell about 1000 tickets despite the tickets coming down to 2 for 1. I bought the $30 tickets (so $15 each) and still ended up in the first few rows of the first tier.