Buying tickets for the RLWC

[Dave T]

As ever when having a bit of a grumble, I'll start with a positive

I can't wait for the RLWC and I'm hoping to get to loads of games, I think there are genuinely 4 teams who could lift that trophy and we've never seen that in my lifetime, if ever. 

Over the last couple of weeks I've been looking to make my plans for the tournament and sort accommodation and tickets.

I have some real issues with the ticket website, sometimes you click the Buy Tickets buttons and it sends you on a loop through your profile to update, and you have to go in and find other ways in, it's all very poor tbh. But, a few minutes mucking about and you can get in to buy tickets. 

I'm looking for tickets for the Scotland v Italy game in Newcastle for me, my wife and my 6yr old daughter. We want to sit down so I don't have to listen to my daughter complaining about her legs being tired.

There are not 3 tickets together in the cheap seats. Fair enough, maybe they are sold out. In the next category there are none for sale (this is the bulk of the main stand). 

So that leaves me with only the top band seating tickets. In this band there are no concessions. So to take my daughter to this game and sit down it will cost £55 each. 

Firstly, I think the pricing is just stupid and will be the downfall of the RLWC, but my main issue is that I expect to watch the game on TV instead and see loads of empty seats that the organisers are not prepared to sell me now. 

If they have sold these already, great, I take it all back and well done to them, but after attending Warrington yesterday, it is clear they won't have sold all those tickets already for a game in Newcastle in 4m. I expect the blocks are reserved for packages, which will then be released. 

Some will accuse me of being a tight wad, but the going rate for 3 seats at Scotland v Italy in Newcastle just isn't £165, and nobody will convince me otherwise. 

We'll just leave this game now and maybe pick a different one more locally, but it does feel harder than it should be to get tickets for this.

[Damien]

I agree on the website, it's really poor. I noticed the loop thing too and its just a terrible user experience. There's no excuse for poor design like that.

On prices I do think 2013 was ridiculously cheap but this year it has become prohibitively expensive. In 2013 the 3 games I went to cost me £79.50 a person but this year for the exact equivalent games in the same sections that would now be £290. That just seems far too big a jump in 8/9 years. It is also so far removed from normal RL event costs that I can see a lot of RL fans saying no or just going to fewer games than they would have otherwise done.

[Scubby]

1 minute ago, Damien said:

I agree on the website, it's really poor. I noticed the loop thing too and its just a terrible user experience. There's no excuse for poor design like that.

On prices I do think 2013 was ridiculously cheap but this year it has become prohibitively expensive. In 2013 the 3 games I went to cost me £79.50 a person but this year for the exact equivalent games in the same sections that would now be £290. That just seems far too big a jump in 8/9 years. It is also so far removed from normal RL event costs that I can see a lot of RL fans saying no or just going to fewer games than they would have otherwise done.

But we all know the discounts will come. And I for one will be ready  

Sad but true

[Damien]

Just now, Scubby said:

But we all know the discounts will come. And I for one will be ready  

Sad but true

Well that's a whole other issue isn't it? A generation of RL fans have been conditioned to not buying early and presuming that discounts will come.

[Dave T]

2 minutes ago, Damien said:

I agree on the website, it's really poor. I noticed the loop thing too and its just a terrible user experience. There's no excuse for poor design like that.

On prices I do think 2013 was ridiculously cheap but this year it has become prohibitively expensive. In 2013 the 3 games I went to cost me £79.50 a person but this year for the exact equivalent games in the same sections that would now be £290. That just seems far too big a jump in 8/9 years. It is also so far removed from normal RL event costs that I can see a lot of RL fans saying no or just going to fewer games than they would have otherwise done.

 

Just now, Scubby said:

But we all know the discounts will come. And I for one will be ready  

Sad but true

Yep. 

The sad thing is, if the pricing was 'normal' I'd have spent a few hundred quid by now. 

I appreciate the marquee events like the opener and final etc. but they are misguided with some of the pricing for some of the other games. 

They are clearly looking to attract new fans to the sport, but there will be a big reliance on existing fans due to the venues they've picked. 

[gingerjon]

31 minutes ago, Dave T said:

As ever when having a bit of a grumble, I'll start with a positive

I can't wait for the RLWC and I'm hoping to get to loads of games, I think there are genuinely 4 teams who could lift that trophy and we've never seen that in my lifetime, if ever. 

Over the last couple of weeks I've been looking to make my plans for the tournament and sort accommodation and tickets.

I have some real issues with the ticket website, sometimes you click the Buy Tickets buttons and it sends you on a loop through your profile to update, and you have to go in and find other ways in, it's all very poor tbh. But, a few minutes mucking about and you can get in to buy tickets. 

I'm looking for tickets for the Scotland v Italy game in Newcastle for me, my wife and my 6yr old daughter. We want to sit down so I don't have to listen to my daughter complaining about her legs being tired.

There are not 3 tickets together in the cheap seats. Fair enough, maybe they are sold out. In the next category there are none for sale (this is the bulk of the main stand). 

So that leaves me with only the top band seating tickets. In this band there are no concessions. So to take my daughter to this game and sit down it will cost £55 each. 

Firstly, I think the pricing is just stupid and will be the downfall of the RLWC, but my main issue is that I expect to watch the game on TV instead and see loads of empty seats that the organisers are not prepared to sell me now. 

If they have sold these already, great, I take it all back and well done to them, but after attending Warrington yesterday, it is clear they won't have sold all those tickets already for a game in Newcastle in 4m. I expect the blocks are reserved for packages, which will then be released. 

Some will accuse me of being a tight wad, but the going rate for 3 seats at Scotland v Italy in Newcastle just isn't £165, and nobody will convince me otherwise. 

We'll just leave this game now and maybe pick a different one more locally, but it does feel harder than it should be to get tickets for this.

The only thing I would add to this is that if it is the case that tickets are being held back for future sales then it should be clear that this is being done.

I'm also on the mailing list for the women's football Euros and they have been really clear throughout about when tickets will be available and that when they say "Limited/No Availability" they mean until the next tranche when *possibly* some more at certain price points will be available - up until the most recent one when it is now basically open sale on the remaining places.

[Dave T]

For the Quarter Final in Warrington, they have blocked out 8 of 17 seating blocks, taking all of the cheaper seats off sale, meaning if yiu want to sit down at Warrington, it will cost you a minimum of £55, despite them having seats for as cheap as £25.

These blocks are clearly reserved for packages, yet we can guarantee thousands of them will be on sale in future. 

These decisions are stopping me spending my money with them. 

[Dave T]

1 minute ago, gingerjon said:

The only thing I would add to this is that if it is the case that tickets are being held back for future sales then it should be clear that this is being done.

I'm also on the mailing list for the women's football Euros and they have been really clear throughout about when tickets will be available and that when they say "Limited/No Availability" they mean until the next tranche when *possibly* some more at certain price points will be available - up until the most recent one when it is now basically open sale on the remaining places.

Yes, it is clear this is happening. I expect it will be due to bundles and community groups etc. A strategy that failed miserably yesterday at Warrington. 

[Dave T]

7 minutes ago, Damien said:

Well that's a whole other issue isn't it? A generation of RL fans have been conditioned to not buying early and presuming that discounts will come.

The annoying thing is that I'm happy to buy early and take that risk, but they pretty much won't sell me them. 

[gingerjon]

3 minutes ago, Dave T said:

For the Quarter Final in Warrington, they have blocked out 8 of 17 seating blocks, taking all of the cheaper seats off sale, meaning if yiu want to sit down at Warrington, it will cost you a minimum of £55, despite them having seats for as cheap as £25.

These blocks are clearly reserved for packages, yet we can guarantee thousands of them will be on sale in future. 

These decisions are stopping me spending my money with them. 

I honestly think stuff like this is happening because we couldn't run the tournament last year and so we are stretching the budget to employ fewer staff for the additional 12 months now required to make things happen. I just don't think there is the oversight or coordination - or even the quality and direction - that there was when the process started and was genuinely impressive.

[Scubby]

10 minutes ago, Damien said:

Well that's a whole other issue isn't it? A generation of RL fans have been conditioned to not buying early and presuming that discounts will come.

Do you think it is a bad/foolhardy strategy on my part? What's the worst that will happen? Given the RFL's strategy on all things including hospitality I think I might do it with that too.

Am I a disloyal supporter of the game or just a by product of what the game has become?

For the 1992, 1995 WC I bought months in advance BTW and paid top price £50 per ticket for the final (30 years ago)

[Chris22]

I agree that the process is clunky. Too many clicks before you can buy. I've bought final tickets and a three game bundle at St Helens so far. Bought those because I thought the final would be in demand with all seats on sale and as the three game bundle was excellent value.

I regretted not going to too many in 2013 so will be going to more, but doubt I'll buy until the month before because I know they'll still be on sale and there may be discounts. The possibility of a Tonga v Samoa QF at Warrington has especially caught my eye.

[Dave T]

4 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

I honestly think stuff like this is happening because we couldn't run the tournament last year and so we are stretching the budget to employ fewer staff for the additional 12 months now required to make things happen. I just don't think there is the oversight or coordination - or even the quality and direction - that there was when the process started and was genuinely impressive.

I made the point last year that it was a concern when a key member of staff left (Commercial Director) - I said then that if we are cutting back we will be in trouble. 

However, I would say that this kind of strategy isn't unusual in RL, so whoever is in charge maybe shouldn't be. 

I've just got caught in a loop on my profile page again and have given up. This time I've tweeted the RLWC and Jon Dutton's account. 

[Scubby]

5 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

I honestly think stuff like this is happening because we couldn't run the tournament last year and so we are stretching the budget to employ fewer staff for the additional 12 months now required to make things happen. I just don't think there is the oversight or coordination - or even the quality and direction - that there was when the process started and was genuinely impressive.

This. It is very noticeable and could end up with the tournament underdelivering unfortunately.

[Scubby]

Just now, Dave T said:

I made the point last year that it was a concern when a key member of staff left (Commercial Director) - I said then that if we are cutting back we will be in trouble. 

However, I would say that this kind of strategy isn't unusual in RL, so whoever is in charge maybe shouldn't be. 

I've just got caught in a loop on my profile page again and have given up. This time I've tweeted the RLWC and Jon Dutton's account. 

He's in Australia atm trying to secure a non-existent TV deal with Australian broadcasters (which is another concern 4 months out).

[Black Country Wire]

£55 for a top whack ticket may sound a lot but that's the same as for one of the CHEAPEST tickets for the equivalent in the football World Cup.

[Dave T]

3 minutes ago, Scubby said:

Do you think it is a bad/foolhardy strategy on my part? What's the worst that will happen? Given the RFL's strategy on all things including hospitality I think I might do it with that too.

Am I a disloyal supporter of the game or just a by product of what the game has become?

For the 1992, 1995 WC I bought months in advance BTW and paid top price £50 per ticket for the final (30 years ago)

I think the point on discounting is overstated somewhat, for me the main thing that stops people rushing out to buy is the fact that there are pretty much always tickets available. People can wait and buy whenever they choose. 

My biggest issue is what is happening now though - I have money sitting there to buy tickets now, its like they don't want my money. 

[Dave T]

1 minute ago, Black Country Wire said:

£55 for a top whack ticket may sound a lot but that's the same as for one of the CHEAPEST tickets for the equivalent in the football World Cup.

It's the cheapest seat you can buy for Scotland v Italy RL in Newcastle. 

That Football WC ticket sounds great value tbh. 

[Scubby]

1 minute ago, Dave T said:

I think the point on discounting is overstated somewhat, for me the main thing that stops people rushing out to buy is the fact that there are pretty much always tickets available. People can wait and buy whenever they choose. 

My biggest issue is what is happening now though - I have money sitting there to buy tickets now, its like they don't want my money. 

They do want it. Just more of it than you are willing to part with.

[Damien]

10 minutes ago, Scubby said:

Do you think it is a bad/foolhardy strategy on my part? What's the worst that will happen? Given the RFL's strategy on all things including hospitality I think I might do it with that too.

Am I a disloyal supporter of the game or just a by product of what the game has become?

For the 1992, 1995 WC I bought months in advance BTW and paid top price £50 per ticket for the final (30 years ago)

Not at all. I suspect many will wait.

At the end of the day the tickets aren't cheap enough to incentivise fans buying early. Demand isn't there to push fans into buying early. Added to that very often tickets aren't even on sale yet for the area a fan wants either.  Then on top of that there is a long standing issue with the sport discounting tickets at some point.

All in all that is pretty much a perfect storm to encourage fans not to buy now.

[EggFace]

When do the tickets get sent out as I spend £100 on 3 fames in Newcastle and haven't had a email off them or update for ages...in fact I forgot the name of the site...NE1 Help.

[Damien]

3 minutes ago, Black Country Wire said:

£55 for a top whack ticket may sound a lot but that's the same as for one of the CHEAPEST tickets for the equivalent in the football World Cup.

The demand is there in Football though to justify that.

[Dave T]

1 minute ago, Scubby said:

They do want it. Just more of it than you are willing to part with.

As much as I want to watch Scotland, I won't be paying £165 (on top of travel and accommodation) for that game against Italy. 

Not when they advertise seats from £20 each. 

I must assume tickets sales are flying. 

[Dave T]

3 minutes ago, Damien said:

 

All in all that is pretty much a perfect storm to encourage fans not to buy now.

This is my big concern. 

[Damien]

3 minutes ago, EggFace said:

When do the tickets get sent out as I spend £100 on 3 fames in Newcastle and haven't had a email off them or update for ages...in fact I forgot the name of the site...NE1 Help.

Usually for RL tickets is much closer to the time.