High-Priced Ticket on Resale Market
A ticket for Seat 30 in Row 20 of Section 252 at the T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan has been listed for an astonishing $175,400 (Rs 1.46 crore) on Stubhub. This price is significantly higher than tickets in adjacent rows within the same section, which are priced at $693 in Row 21 and $801 in Row 19. Another ticket for the same section, though not specifying the exact seat or row, is listed at the same high price on Viagogo, suggesting it might be from the same seller.
Resale Market Profiteering
The India-Pakistan match, considered the highlight of the month-long tournament across the US and the Caribbean, has led to high demand and profiteering on resale markets. Despite the high resale prices, tickets were still available on the official International Cricket Council (ICC) website as of Friday night. Prices ranged from $1,500 in the Boundary Club section to $10,000 in the Diamond Club section. Other sections, like the Premium Club Lounge, had tickets for $2,750, while the Cabanas section was priced at $3,000.
Comparisons with Other Matches
Ticket prices and demand vary greatly between matches. For instance, tickets for the Netherlands-South Africa match at the same venue were priced between $120 for Premium seats and $700 for Premium Club sections on the ICC site. For the upcoming India-US match, tickets ranged from $300 for Premium seats to $7,500 for the Diamond Club. The ICC sold tickets through a “public ballot,” where fans applied for tickets and some were randomly selected to purchase them. The demand for India-Pakistan match tickets exceeded supply by 200 times.
Market Dynamics and Middlemen
Stubhub, Viagogo, and other resale sites act as intermediaries, charging fees to both sellers and buyers and guaranteeing the transactions. While one ticket is listed for $175,400, most tickets on the secondary market range between $700 and $1,000. Stubhub’s second-highest listing is $18,000 for Section 101, followed by a $13,496 ticket in the Diamond section, which includes perks like VIP parking and unlimited food and drinks. Viagogo’s highest listing is $6,700 for a Diamond Club seat, with most tickets priced between $500 and $700. On Vividseats, prices range from $693 to $8,013.
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