Watch premiers at a premium

RICHMOND is set to cash in on Saturday’s blockbuster against Collingwood, as well as its clash with Geelong the following Friday, with ticket price hikes hitting fans.

More than 85,000 people are expected to flood the MCG on Saturday and the reigning premier has gone premium thanks to the AFL’s variable and dynamic pricing system.

Variable pricing allows the Tigers to set their base seat rate for each match depending on appeal, while dynamic pricing lets them raise that price by up to $20 ahead of match day.

Richmond yesterday refused to confirm the original starting price for tickets to the Collingwood game.

But a level one wing seat has increased by $10, from $55 to $65, in the past week.

The Tigers are charging $47 for a level four seat for Saturday’s uber clash — the same seat will cost a Tigers fan $35 in Round 23 against the Bulldogs.

When the Demons host the Swans and Collingwood play Port Adelaide at the ‘ G later this year, the same level four seat is $25.

In the past week the Tigers increased their level four seat for Round 19 by $2 while a level two wing seat has gone from $70 to $75. Scalpers are set to profit from Saturday’s blockbuster with one re-sale site offering four seats on level one on the wing for $258 each.

Fans can secure two levelfour seats, way up in the heavens, from the same site for $195.

The AFL forces all clubs to sell some $25 general admission tickets, but then clubs set their own prices for other seat categories.

Richmond yesterday warned there was only a limited number of public tickets left for the match.

In 2016 the AFL declared its dynamic pricing policy would benefit fans and was aimed at increasing attendance. St Kilda reduced general admission tickets to a recent historic low of $13 for its Round 17 clash with Carlton. It also reduced prime level-two behind the goal seats from $75 to $45.

But the most popular games are routinely hit with price hikes with Tigers fans to also pay a premium to attend their Round 20 clash with Geelong.

Level four seats for that game have increased to $42 while level two wing seats are $72.

Hawthorn will charge fans $75 for a level two wing seat for its games against Essendon and Geelong, while a level four seat is priced at $40.