Stadium Management SA CEO Bertie Grobbelaar has explained why ticket prices have increased this season, particularly for the Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs home matches.
Last weekend, when the Betway Premiership season kicked off, one of the notable changes was that of ticket prices in Pirates’ opening match against newcomers Milford FC at the Orlando Arena, which cost R100 than the usual R60.
This weekend, Pirates and Chiefs will both be in MTN8 action at Arena and FNB Stadium, with tickets for both matches costing R100 each.
Grobbelaar has since explained why there has been a slight increase in ticket prices for the games hosted by Chiefs and Pirates, stating that the decision was influenced by stadium maintenance-related issues.
Derby ticket prices ‘must go up’
The Stadium Management CEO went as far as suggesting that ticket prices for the biggest football fixture in the PSL calendar, the Soweto derby, must also go up.
“To host in a venue with 90 000 capacity at FNB, the security costs amount to R450 000. Just the security costs alone. And this excludes the lights and other expenses,” Grobbelaar said during a media briefing at the FNB Stadium on Thursday evening.
“So, one can make calculations of how many tickets should be sold at R60 just to pay for security. Someone said the other day that ‘football is a sport for the people,’ but you need common ground. To be commercially viable, you need to find that sweet spot.
“And my personal view is that the ticket prices [for the Soweto derby] need to increase. I think people have seen that Pirates have taken their tickets up to R100 and Chiefs to R80 from R60 this season.
“We sit on dangerous ground, where the Soweto derby sells out in two hours. The demand must dictate, but we really need to find common ground,” Grobbelaar added.
The first league Soweto derby of the season between Amakhosi and the Buccaneers will be on October 31.
- Ticket prices for Orlando Pirates' home match against Milford FC increased from R60 to R100 this season.
- Both Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs' tickets for upcoming MTN8 matches are priced at R100 each.
- Stadium Management SA CEO Bertie Grobbelaar stated ticket price increases are due to stadium maintenance and security costs.
- Security costs for hosting a match at FNB Stadium with 90,000 capacity amount to R450,000, excluding other expenses like lighting.
- Grobbelaar suggests that ticket prices for the Soweto derby should also increase to balance commercial viability and demand.
