This years OPEN - £80 for a day ticket!

[pbrown7582]

Mine were 160 euros each in Munich in 2012, Europa League were £39 each in Amsterdam in 2013, not that bad at all when compared to the FA Cup final;
2007 final £80
2009 semi £34.30
2009 final £58.65
2010 semi £40
2010 final £65
2012 semi £40
2012 final £65

Only the 2007 final was lower tier so higher priced, all the other finals were upper tier so the lower end of the price scale. For comparison Munich was lower tier, six yard line (very similar to FA Cup final 2007 location) Europa was upper tier on a corner.

your lucky ours were £250 at Wembley in 2011 me HID and the lad and that was upper tier in the corner and not top price. compare that to Barca 99 £12! for virtually the same view if not result.

suppose you had value for money in 2007 with an extra half hour, although I somehow cant remember the score........

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Personally I think that is now too much, especially if there is a reduced tented village & manufacturer presence at St. Andrews as that is all part of the event for me.

But there has not been a manufacturers' presence in the tented village for a good many years now.

Personally I go to watch the golf and golfers, the latest equipment can be seen any day at AG.

Friends of mine who were in the equipment business when there was a significant trade presence in the village tell me that the Open was used as an opportunity to "shift the tat".

 

[Marshy77]

Compares reasonably well with other major sports events.

How much for the FA Cup Final, an Ashes Test, Centre Court Wimbledon or Silverstone F1 GP.

Why does anyone expect the Open to be cheaper than these?

Think we paid about £60 for the Carling Cup final 2 years so £80 for the full day is pretty good in comparison. IMO.

 

[CMAC]

Think we paid about £60 for the Carling Cup final 2 years so £80 for the full day is pretty good in comparison. IMO.

however, you are comparing apples with oranges! The cup final has a smaller max number that can attend, you are allocated a seat thats covered from the elements that ensures you see all the action. The Open's £80 just gets you access, so if 60,000 turn up and its 10 deep everywhere and bucketing down that's just hard luck.

The comment about seeing the latest gear at AG doesn't stack up as the Open is the most prestigious tournament in the world and it was a window for manufacturers to show how good they were and whats coming up, as well as great PR.
It was obviously what they used to do and don't know why it's stopped- possibly financial reasons but why you wouldnt take the opportunity to be in front of approx 200,000 dedicated golf fans escapes me.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

The comment about seeing the latest gear at AG doesn't stack up as the Open is the most prestigious tournament in the world and it was a window for manufacturers to show how good they were and whats coming up, as well as great PR.
It was obviously what they used to do and don't know why it's stopped- possibly financial reasons but why you wouldnt take the opportunity to be in front of approx 200,000 dedicated golf fans escapes me.

Ultimately it was the decision of the R&A to restrict the village to their own merchandising and displays by event sponsors.

The manufacturers presence had been reducing for many years due to costs and the restrictions upon them selling at the event.

The size of the golf market in the UK is so small in relative terms that there is not sufficient in the marketing budgets to support exercises of this size and nature. Just look at the half-arsed efforts at Golf Shows in this country.

 

[Marshy77]

however, you are comparing apples with oranges! The cup final has a smaller max number that can attend, you are allocated a seat thats covered from the elements that ensures you see all the action. The Open's £80 just gets you access, so if 60,000 turn up and its 10 deep everywhere and bucketing down that's just hard luck.

The comment about seeing the latest gear at AG doesn't stack up as the Open is the most prestigious tournament in the world and it was a window for manufacturers to show how good they were and whats coming up, as well as great PR.
It was obviously what they used to do and don't know why it's stopped- possibly financial reasons but why you wouldnt take the opportunity to be in front of approx 200,000 dedicated golf fans escapes me.

80000 can turn up to the cup final but I understand your point.

 

[NimbleNeil]

So the game is struggling to attract players and someone decides that £80 is ok for a day. Disgusting.
someones deffo not got there finger on the pulse there.

Exactly.. I'd love to spectate but I just can't afford it.
I think the same goes for some green fees, from what i've seen in the past 2 months of playing most are in the 20-40 region, I can see no reason to charge over £100 for a single round

 

[Hacker Khan]

Ultimately it was the decision of the R&A to restrict the village to their own merchandising and displays by event sponsors.

The manufacturers presence had been reducing for many years due to costs and the restrictions upon them selling at the event.

The size of the golf market in the UK is so small in relative terms that there is not sufficient in the marketing budgets to support exercises of this size and nature. Just look at the half-arsed efforts at Golf Shows in this country.

I'm sure I've read a few times that it is something like the 3rd or 4th biggest market. And whilst it is probably small beer compared to the US, surely you'd think they could stretch to putting on a decent display at The Open?

 

[Hobbit]

The cost comparison with other sporting events is a fair one but i think it only highlights that in general the cost of attending sporting events is far too expensive in the UK.

This is a very fair point when you look what you can get elsewhere in Europe. We will be in Portugal in October for the Portuguese Masters. Tickets for the full week will cost us less than 50Euro's each + flights and hotel. Its cheaper to go to Portugal for a week than it is to go to Scotland.

Several years ago we did the same with Formula 1. It was cheaper to fly out to the Spanish GP than to go to Silverstone, and if you tie it in with a holiday...

 

[Hacker Khan]

Comparisons with football finals are also irrelevant in my opinion as football teams always have fans who will go no matter what, so demand will always exceed supply. So in a way they can charge what they want up to a point, in the knowledge they will sell out all the tickets. Where as this will not happen at golf events and tickets should be priced to ensure you are attracting as many punters in as you can.

 

[Tongo]

Would £70 seem more reasonable? Because (as mentioned in the opening post) that's how much it is!

Save yourself a £10 and buy it before 31st May!

How many other sporting days out would offer you that?

Granted, I do think that it's a tad too much but would probably pay that if it were at Lytham or Birkdale as there's hardly any travelling for me so I could easily do a single day, but to get up to any of the Scottish tracks I'd have to do a few days. 3 days tickets, digs, food, fuel etc.. means it'd start to hit the same costs as a holiday to the canaries!

I think its convenient for those grumbling about the price to ignore this fact!

Whilst i can see that it is a lot of money, some of the arguments are amusing, particularly the one about the action being spread out. Well, yeah, its a golf tournament.

Regardless of whether one thinks the prices are too much we need to remember that this is arguably the sport's premier event at arguably the world's most famous course.

 

[matt71]

your lucky ours were £250 at Wembley in 2011 me HID and the lad and that was upper tier in the corner and not top price. compare that to Barca 99 £12! for virtually the same view if not result.

suppose you had value for money in 2007 with an extra half hour, although I somehow cant remember the score........

That's spooky PBrown I sent Blue in munich a message with the same info lol!

 

[Tongo]

This is a very fair point when you look what you can get elsewhere in Europe. We will be in Portugal in October for the Portuguese Masters. Tickets for the full week will cost us less than 50Euro's each + flights and hotel. Its cheaper to go to Portugal for a week than it is to go to Scotland.

Several years ago we did the same with Formula 1. It was cheaper to fly out to the Spanish GP than to go to Silverstone, and if you tie it in with a holiday...

You cant compare the Portuguese Masters with the Open. Of course tickets will be a lot cheaper. But you also wont be seeing Rory, Tiger, Phil etc etc.

Mind you, travel costs i would agree with.

 

[Hobbit]

You cant compare the Portuguese Masters with the Open. Of course tickets will be a lot cheaper. But you also wont be seeing Rory, Tiger, Phil etc etc.

Mind you, travel costs i would agree with.

It may not have the premier players but you get a lot closer to the action with 80% of the players that will be at the Open AND its £10 a day, not £80... Believe me, its way better than going to the Open.

 

[DCB]

If you're prepared to go for a long day on either the Thursday or the Friday, it's still got to be worth it. The Open is one of the premium sports events in this country and you can be out on the course for 12-14 hours on the first two days if you desire.

As for the weekend, nah, better off watching tv coverage for those two days

 

[pbrown7582]

That's spooky PBrown I sent Blue in munich a message with the same info lol!

hope your memory was faded too :thup:


is Wimbledon is possibly a better like for like comparision?

 

[Beezerk]

Never been to a golf tournament plus the missus fancies it as well so may go on the Saturday and make a long weekend of it.

 

[GB72]

To be honest, I do not have much of an issue with the ticket price per se, it is more the other expenses that relate to this and pretty much any other major event, sporting or otherwise, that keeps me away. High travel costs, the doubling or more of the price of nearby accomodation, the rip of price of food and drink, the list goes on. Not a sporting event I know but I will never forget the time I was looking for a hotel room in Milton Keynes for the Foo Figthers gig a couple of years ago. The Premier Inn was charging £300 a room, thats right, a a Premier Inn, Milton Keynes, £300 for the night.

That is why I have to stay away from big events, sporting or otherwise as a day out for me and the wife can easily become a £500 outing and I could have a weekend away in europe for that.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Comparisons with football finals are also irrelevant in my opinion as football teams always have fans who will go no matter what, so demand will always exceed supply. So in a way they can charge what they want up to a point, in the knowledge they will sell out all the tickets. Where as this will not happen at golf events and tickets should be priced to ensure you are attracting as many punters in as you can.

But is there any suggestion that the R&A are struggling to sell tickets.

As far as I can see it is a case of golfers complaining that they cannot afford the tickets. Well I can't afford an S Class; do you think Mercedes are going to reduce the price to help me.

The price of tickets for the Open will not be having any sort of significant effect upon levels of participation in golf. Ours is a minority sport and will ever remain so.

 

[Hacker Khan]

But is there any suggestion that the R&A are struggling to sell tickets.

As far as I can see it is a case of golfers complaining that they cannot afford the tickets. Well I can't afford an S Class; do you think Mercedes are going to reduce the price to help me.

The price of tickets for the Open will not be having any sort of significant effect upon levels of participation in golf. Ours is a minority sport and will ever remain so.

For the Open of 2013 - Attendance at The Open Championship this year was not only below the R&A’s hoped-for figure of 170,000 but, at 142,036, also 11.5% below the attendance at the Muirfield Open of 2002 http://www.golfbusinessnews.com/news/sponsorship/open-attendance-figures-disappoint/

For the Open of 2014 - Hoylake's attendance for the 2014 Open Championship attracted 26,059 fewer spectators than when the tournament was last played on the Wirral links in 2006. http://www1.skysports.com/golf/news...-for-the-2014-championship-lower-than-in-2006

So it would seem from the past 2 years that they are struggling to sell as many tickets as they once did.