How a ticket for RCB’s home game cost Rs 52,938

HOW MUCH does an Indian Premier League (IPL) ticket cost? Rs 52,938, in case you are making a last-minute booking for the best seat in the house for Royal Challengers Bangalore’s opening home game. It could be as less as Rs 499 if you are among the early birds eyeing the cheapest ticket for a Lucknow Super Giants tie. Aware of the heavy ticket demand for key contests featuring top stars, IPL franchise owners are adopting surge pricing and dynamic-rates strategies to maximise their gate collection.

Since the Indian board gives the franchise a free hand to decide ticket prices and the fans are filling stands, no one is complaining. “They (franchises) do the pricing by themselves. We provide them with the infrastructure and our job is to fulfill their requirements. We don’t engage in the pricing of tickets,” Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) secretary Rajan Manchanda told The Indian Express.

With teams like RCB, despite in the middle of another miserable season, continuing to enjoy a loyal support base, the franchises are cashing in on the high demand. The cheapest ticket in Bengaluru costs Rs 2,300 – the highest of the tournament in that category. While these are exempted from surge pricing, the rates for more expensive seats see a spike as the match day approaches.

RCB fans during the match. (RCB Twitter)

For the opening match, the entry to the fan terrace was hiked from Rs 4,840 to Rs 6,292 and for corporate stands, the ticket price went from Rs 42,350 to Rs 52,938.

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*Surge pricing rate original cost 42,350 rupees

Franchises justify their ticketing economics. “When tickets are being sold in the black market for huge prices – which is of no use to us – we have to adjust it accordingly. So after the stadium facilities were upgraded, the price was adjusted as per the market demand. Moreover, for each ticket we pay 58 per cent tax (28% GST and 25% entertainment). So the returns are minimal for us,” said Kasi Viswanathan, CEO of Chennai Super Kings.

In Chennai, the cheapest ticket costs Rs 1,700 with the most expensive one priced at Rs 6,000, the lowest for any franchise. The other ticket prices are Rs 2,500, 3,500 and Rs 4,000.

Former BCCI GM Amrit Mathur, who was once the COO of the Delhi franchise, said it is the market that determines pricing.

“The pricing is always determined by the market,” he said. “The gate revenue is important for a franchise. And dynamic pricing is a standard practice in the market. Take airline operators, for example. It’s the demand that dictates the price. Just like a player’s value at the auction table and the price of a franchise. The ticket price depends on various factors. A night game (ticket) will cost more than that for a 3.30 pm game. A weekend game will be priced higher than one on a weekday. If there are no takers, the price will come down.”

Mathur said gate income isn’t what runs a franchise. “It is an important source of income. Though the larger chunk of the revenue comes from broadcast and central pool, franchises want to maximise their internal revenue. And kit sponsorship and ticket sales are their major sources. And it’s determined by the base city as well. Bengaluru’s affordability could be higher than Jaipur or Mohali. There is nothing the BCCI can do about it because it is ultimately down to franchises,” he said.

A Punjab Kings official added that a fan’s paying capacity depends on the venue. “If you are playing in Mumbai, the same ticket price can be Rs 5,000, but in Chandigarh, it could be just Rs 1,000. Pricing is decided as per demand and supply, affordability, culture, and the eagerness of the people to pay. A fan in Mumbai will be ready to pay Rs 5,000 to watch a game, but in Mohali, a fan won’t be interested in investing that much,” he said.

Star power also plays a role in ticket pricing. “If M S Dhoni, Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma are playing, the prices would be higher than if Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad or LSG are in the town. You know that if Dhoni or Kohli is here, it will be sold out,” said DDCA’s Manchanda.

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