For $379, this seat is still available as Wallabies-Lions creeps towards sell-out
After years of anticipation, the countdown is on for the opening game of the three-Test series between the Wallabies and Lions in Brisbane on Saturday, but seats were still available for the game on Wednesday, and for the second Test in Melbourne and the third in Sydney as well.
The Lions' five fixtures played in the first 15 days of their tour saw strong crowds, many of which were venue records for rugby, but all venues contained sections of empty seats.
Rugby Australia, who set the ticket pricing in a joint venture with the Lions, has drawn criticism for setting prices too high and making the games inaccessible for some fans.
Ticket prices for the first Test in Brisbane range from $149 to $649 per seat, with the MCG ($99 to $649) and Accor Stadium ($149-$649) Tests having similar pricing structures. Tour game prices were lower.
For context, single tickets for the annual State of Origin series this year cost between $49 and $399, and to get a ticket for the Sydney show of Oasis' reunion tour will set you back between $129 and $849.
Given that it is a once-in-12-years event, the demand for Lions tickets has still been strong, and all corporate packages were swiftly sold out, suggesting the market mostly accepted the prices. But fans have also expressed frustration on social media platforms, and late ticket returns from UK tour operators have proven hard to shift.
There were less than 1000 tickets left for the 52,500-capacity Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday. Waugh is confident the ground will end up full.
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Twelve years of anticipation will end on Saturday night when the Wallabies and British and Irish Lions face off in the first of three Test matches, at Lang Park in Brisbane. The historic rugby tour sees Australia's finest take on the very best players from four nations in an event that comes to our shores once every dozen years. ABC Sport will live blog the first Test between the British and Irish Lions and the Wallabies on Saturday, July 19, from Lang Park in Brisbane. Here is what you need to know about the first Test between the Wallabies and the British and Irish Lions. The first Test between the Wallabies and the British and Irish Lions will be played on Saturday, July 19, at Lang Park in Brisbane. Here is the kick-off time in each state and territory, as well as the UK, Ireland and the other SANZAAR rugby nations: In Australia, the Test match will be shown on free-to-air by broadcaster Channel Nine. The match will also be streamed online through the Nine Network's 9now. 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The Lions rotate between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, meaning they only tour each of these nations once every 12 years. There is more than just pride and history at stake for the Wallabies and Lions. Starting in 2001, the winning team of the Wallabies vs Lions Test series is awarded the Tom Richards Trophy. Tom Richards is the only Australian-born rugby union player to represent the Lions and the Wallabies. Richards was part of the first Wallaby team to tour Britain in 1908, and was also part of Australasia's (a combined Australia and New Zealand team) gold medal-winning rugby team at that year's Olympic Games in London. Richards was part of the Lions tour to South Africa in 1910, while he was living in Britain. Australia were the first holders of the trophy after their series win in 2001. The Lions are the current holders following their series win in 2013. The British and Irish Lions were last on Australian shores in 2013, where they claimed a memorable 2-1 Test series win. The opening two Tests of the series were nail-biters, going down to the final play. The Lions triumphed in Brisbane 23-21, then the Wallabies were victorious in Melbourne, 16-15. In both matches, the losing side had a penalty kick at full-time to win the match, but missed. The third Test threatened to again go down to the wire, with the Lions holding a 19-16 lead early in the second half. But the tourists scored three tries in the final 23 minutes to earn a commanding 41-16 win, and claim the series. James O'Connor and James Slipper both played in the 2013 series for the Wallabies. Should they take the field against the Lions this year, they will join George Smith (2001 and 2013) as the only three Wallabies to have played in consecutive Lions tours. Since their first official Test match in 1899, Australia and the British and Irish Lions have faced each other in 23 Test matches. The Wallabies have managed to defeat the Lions six times. Australia was victorious in the maiden encounter in 1899, a 13-3 win at the Sydney Cricket Ground. That was also Australia's first Test match win in rugby. The Lions would go on to win the next three Tests in 1899, claiming a 3-1 series win. Australia would have to wait until 1930 before their second Test win against the Lions, a 6-5 triumph at the Sydney Cricket Ground. That was the only Test match against Australia played on the 1930 Lions' tour, meaning Australia had achieved their first of two series wins. The modern 12-year cycle of Lions tours began in 1989, and the Wallabies achieved their first Test win over the Lions in 49 years. World champions at the time, the Wallabies defeated the Lions in the first Test 30-12 at the Sydney Football Stadium. The Lions recovered to win the following two Tests and win the series. Australia's only multi-match series win came in 2001. After losing the first Test at the Gabba, the Wallabies recovered to defeat the Lions at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne, 35-14. The 21-point margin is Australia's largest win over the Lions. The Wallabies won the series with a famous 29-23 victory at Stadium Australia in front of 84,188 fans. Australia's last win over the Lions was during the second Test in 2013.
