I've been interested to read how angry people are about having to fork out £32 for tickets to the Bristol game. As someone who spends most Saturday afternoons watching amateur rugby (entrance fee £3-£5!) I'd lost track of how much professional clubs charge now. That was until I travelled up to Keynsham for a match only to find that it had been postponed; rather than waste the afternoon I decided to go and watch Bath play Newcastle in the Anglo-Welsh (aka Mickey Mouse) Cup. Bath's ground has mainly uncovered stands, so as it was peeing down I bought a ticket for the covered stand. It cost me £46!! To watch what was ostensibly two teams of development squad players!! And there was sufficient leg room in the seat for someone around 5'6". And the half-time score was 0-0!!!!
Anyway, it seems that Premiership rugby teams are charging ridiculous sums for league and cup matches. £60 for a decent seat at Exeter, £40+ for an uncovered seat at Bath for a league match. All of which puts Bristol's £32 into some perspective. I realise that Exeter and Bath are first tier clubs and Bristol a second tier one, but I'd be surprised if Bristol's overheads are not as high the rugby clubs'. I certainly wished I'd turned the car round that wet afternoon and headed to Ashton Gate for Bristol v QPR.
So what are people happy to pay for a Championship match? And what do clubs usually charge Blues fans for away matches?
