Cost of Olympic tickets

[USER1999]

I was listening to the wireless driving in to work yesterday, and they were talking about which events you would like to go to.

One of the DJs mentioned sychronised diving (I know), and a guy who had tickets to the final of this event phoned in.

Apparently, he has two tickets in the ballot. £440 each!

I had no idea it was that expensive.

I also assume that the French get all the money?

 

[Monty_Brown]

We shelled out not far off a grand for four people to get into four sessions. A hockey session, and three track and field, at which there are no medals being won. Average price per ticket for us was about £50 if memory serves.

A rip off to some people, sure, but worth it for me.

The ballot system meant that in the first round, a lot of people went for the cheapest ticket bracket (about £30) in a lot of events. They then got nothing, so in the second ballot went for higher price points to try to avoid the most over-subscribed pricepoints. So in then end they got lured into spendning more than they intended to ensure getting something.

The ballot system was very clever (or devious) in that respect.

 

[AmandaJR]

I applied for £800 worth in the first ballot (average £50 tickets I think) and got nowt. Wasn't tempted by the higher prices nor those still available for the 2nd ballot.

I'm going down for the free events and imagine the atmosphere as so many missed out on getting the tickets they wanted - it will be awesome.

I'd still rather we sold out in spectacular style as we did rather than half empty stadiums...

 

[Basher]

Some people are going to make a shedload of money on the back the games.
Rip off merchants, entrepreneurs and "in to make a quick buck" London geezers will be rubbing their hands with glee.
That's not even mentioning the usual parasitic ticket touts either! Scum.

 

[bluewolf]

We didn't bother applying as the cost of the tickets was going to be dwarfed by the cost of transport and hotels..Instead, we are gonna make another day of watching the UK ironman which will be run (swim and cycled) just round the corner, and at which no one will be (overly) profiteering...

 

[daymond]

More than a nice holiday to get away from it all.

 

[brendy]

I still can't believe the price of the tickets, anyone who pays that is an absolute mug in my unimportant opinion.
Where is the justification when you take sponsorship and revenue due to be made from the masses of people descending the events?

 

[ADB]

If I am honest, I breathed a bit of sigh of relief that my tickets didn't come through as I was in for about a grand. It will be a spectacle, yes, but paying hundreds of quid to see the qualifying rounds of any discipline (we had basketball, gymnastics, powerlifting and athletics) is profiteering in anyone's book.

 

[Naybrains]

I'm one of the mugs that Brendy mentions...

I'm off to track finals night on the Thursday Then on the Saturday night I'm off to the footie final at Wembley.
Yip I know most of you will think I'm mad but it's something that I want to to do, going with my old man and at his age this will be the last chance to see anything quite like this just a stones throw from where he was brought up.

 

[drawboy]

My view is this.As the olympic games come to a country once in a lifetime for most countries the very least that country should do is make the games accesible to ALL. What is the point of a middle class games where only the wealthier portion of society can attend? The games are firmly priced at the middle classes. I work for a living and yes, I can afford to go but I object to going when loads of society cannot afford to go and see the worlds best athletes perform. These athletes belong to all and all should be able to get a seat.
I'm boycotting the games for these reasons, you may choose to agree or disagree with me, but that is my stance on the games.

 

[Golfmmad]

I'll be watching from the comfort of my armchair in front of the TV.

If I did buy tickets I'd only be interested in the Athletic events, so wouldn't want to join the lottery and chance ending up with tickets for archery or something similar.

I appreciate it will not be the same atmosphere but it will still be a spectacle on TV, as Olympics always are a great occasion to watch and be part of.