Ticket prices for last games soar

WELLINGTON: Ticket prices for the Rugby World Cup final have skyrocketed to a near 1800% increase on the original price.

The ticket resale website Stubhub was yesterday selling top level tickets to the EnglandSouth Africa final for $NZ25,687 — a 1771% increase on the original price of $1450.

The cheapest ticket still available yesterday afternoon in Category D at International Stadium in Yokohama was listed at $2227 — its original price on the Rugby World Cup website was $363.

Saturday will mark the first appearance in the final for both South Africa and England since they played each other in the 2007 decider in Paris, won by the Springboks.

Throughout the 2019 tournament, Rugby World Cup organisers have said fans with tickets purchased from unofficial sellers would be turned away at stadiums, though there have been few reports of such incidents.

All Blacks fans keen to get lastminute tickets to the bronze medal match against Wales also face spending thousands of dollars for the best views.

Category A tickets are being sold for $4740 on Stubhub, while the cheapest ticket available yesterday afternoon was $856.

Ticket prices on resale site Viagogo are cheaper than Stubhub, but will still cost fans thousands.

The most expensive ‘‘Premium’’ ticket to the final on Viagogo is being sold for $17,464 and comes with a meal, VIP Pass and an ‘‘unrestricted view’’.

The cheapest ticket was being sold for $1882.

Tickets to the bronze medal match are being sold for as little as $426 on Viagogo, and as much as $4888.

A Viagogo spokesman told Britain’s Guardian newspaper: ‘‘Rather than ‘ripping people off’ this is the market working perfectly.’’ — RNZ/Reuters

❛ Rather than ‘ripping people off’ this is the market working

perfectly.