After several thousand seats went unsold for the Springboks’ opening Rugby Championship Test against Australia at Ellis Park on Saturday, questions have been asked regarding ticket sales for the upcoming weekend’s clash in Cape Town.
After Gayton McKenzie’s Sports, Arts and Culture department gave away 2 000 free tickets, the official attendance was still some 10 000 below capacity at the iconic Johannesburg venue.
Tickets still available
A quick check of the official Ticketmaster website on Monday still shows several thousand tickets are available, especially in the R3 500+ price range.
Following the Springboks’ woeful second half performance at Ellis Park, one wonders if fans in the Cape will be willing to fork out that much for a ticket.
Rain is also forecast for the afternoon / evening and the Cape Town Stadium remains a nightmare in terms of traffic and parking at the best of times.
When one considers a one-month subscription to DStv costs around R1 000, one is never surprised to learn there will be empty seats in the stands.
Following Saturday’s match, South Africans have only one more chance to see the Springboks live in Mzansi this year – against Argentina at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on 27 September.
Will Gayton McKenzie’s Sports, Arts and Culture department be giving away another 2 000 free tickets?
Ticket Sales Under the Spotlight
Saturday’s match follows a trend of lower-than-expected ticket sales for the Springboks’ recent July Test matches – including fixtures against Italy in Pretoria and Port Elizabeth and Georgia in Nelspruit – none of which reportedly reached capacity.
Despite this, SA Rugby remains optimistic, pointing to strong broadcast numbers and sustained interest in the national team, which remains a major commercial drawcard following their 2023 Rugby World Cup triumph.
Is the price of the tickets the likely reason for the empty seats?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
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