COMMENT
The ANZAC Day clash between the Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra Dragons is the biggest regular-season premiership-game on the annual calendar and a monster crowd is expected at Allianz Stadium.
Ticket sales are strong just 24 hours out from kick-off but there are fears battling young families could be priced out of the fixture.
It’s the hottest ticket in town.
So hot that it will burn holes in your pocket and your bank account.
Any parents considering a last-ditch purchase are looking at $215 as the cheapest option for two adults and two juniors – and even then, it’s a “restricted view”.
A restricted view adult ticket will set you back $80 while an adult premium category one seat is a whopping $160.
Pricing may still increase as we edge toward the 4pm kick-off on Friday.
When accessing the Ticketek website, a pop-up warning explains that pricing could be bumped up prior to kick-off if sales are strong – which they are.
“Please note a ticket offered for sale for this event may increase or decrease at any time prior to the event subject to customer demand.”
There’s also a “service fee” add-on of $8.25.
“I’ve gone to the ANZAC day match between Roosters & Dragons for the past 25 years,” one frustrated fan posted on X.
“Haven’t missed one. This year the ticket prices are a joke. Adults between $110-$160? W
“What the hell? How is that affordable for a family of 6 adults?? That’s over $700 for us.”
It’s in stark contrast to the $10 tickets offered to fans to attend last Friday’s blockbuster between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium which attracted over 65,000 supporters.
“Good Friday game – we have launched $10 tickets,” Bulldogs GM Phil Gould posted to social media in the build-up to the clash.
Beetson Raudonikis Medal 2025 – Round Seven
“We are already on track to have a crowd of 60,000 (which would be an NRL record) but we’ve decided to open up a bunch of tickets on level 6 for $10 each to get to 70,000 and give families an opportunity to attend a marquee game.
“Ticketek have also come to the party and waived their usual transaction fee.
“Thanks to their new CEO Brad Banducci who helped make it happen.”
All that and it was still ten days out from the match.
It’s a day we celebrate and pay tribute to service men and women.
All those soldiers that perished on the fields of war.
$160 to watch a game of footy on ANZAC Day is ordinary.
Very ordinary.
