Tickets to the highly anticipated British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia are set to go on sale next week with both Lions’ matches in Melbourne expected to sell fast.
At 9:00am on Monday 18 February, tickets to the Qantas Wallabies v Lions Test at Etihad Stadium and the Melbourne Rebels v Lions tour match at AAMI Park will go on sale to the General Public and fans are being encouraged to purchase quickly.
Last week Australian Rugby Union provided members of the Rugby Community with an exclusive opportunity to buy Lions tickets before they went on public sale.
The Melbourne Rugby Community responded keenly, snapping up tickets and exhausting the allocation provided in just over a day.
ARU CEO, Bill Pulver, said the anticipation for a Tour “12 Years in the Making” was high and expected tickets to move quickly on Monday morning.
“There is a fantastic air of excitement across Australia for the impending British & Irish Lions Tour,” Mr Pulver said.
“The Lions only visit our shores once every 12 years and the scarcity of a Lions Tour has not been lost on Australian Rugby fans.
“Last week we saw tickets to the Melbourne Test and the Lions’ tour match against the Rebels snapped up quickly.
“When the General Public ticket sales commence, there is every indication the allocation provided for the second Test between the Qantas Wallabies and Lions at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne will be exhausted in a short period of time.
“I encourage All Australian sports fans to get in quick to avoid disappointment.”
The last time the Lions toured in 2001 Melbourne hosted the second Test under the roof at Etihad Stadium (then Colonial Stadium) with the crowd shattering the stadium record with 56,605 people turning out to watch the Qantas Wallabies level the series at 1-1.
The second Test also saw Australian Rugby Union undertake its historic ‘golding of the crowd’ campaign after the visitors caught Australians unawares in Brisbane, turning the stands into a sea of Red for the first Test at the Gabba.
With a potential 30,000 British and Irish tourists set to venture down under again this year in support of the Lions, fans are being encouraged to Be Bold, Wear Gold, to all three of the Qantas Wallabies Test.
Victorian Premier, Ted Baillieu said Melbourne is ready to welcome Rugby fans from all over the world to witness these spectacular matches.
“Melbourne is the sporting capital of Australia and we are ready to welcome Rugby fans from all over the world with our famous Melbourne hospitality,” Mr Baillieu said.
“Hosting two of the nine Lions matches provides a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase Melbourne and Victoria to the world.
“We are looking forward to Rugby fans from all around Australia joining us in Melbourne to get behind the Qantas Wallabies and of course, supporting Melbourne’s very own Rebels when they take on the Lions in June as well.”
“The economic benefit a Tour like this has cannot be underestimated," Mr Baillieu said.
Test ticket prices have been set at the same levels for all three showdowns between the Qantas Wallabies and the Lions in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
Adults’ prices start at $95 for a Bronze category ticket, moving to $175 for Silver, $235 for Gold and $295 for Platinum.
By comparison:
• 2011 Rugby World Cup quarter final tickets in New Zealand ranged from $150 to $380;
• 2012 AFL grand final tickets were priced from $176.50 to $390;
• 2003 Rugby World Cup quarter final tickets in Australia were priced from $95 to $295; and
• 2005 Lions Tour Test tickets in New Zealand were priced from $80 for some matches and up to $300 for the three Tests between the All Blacks and the Lions.
Tickets to the Rebels v Lions Tour match start from just $10 for a Junior Bronze ticket and $25 for an adult Bronze ticket, while a family of four can watch the best of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales from just $60.
Tickets to the Qantas Wallabies v Lions Test will go on sale through Ticketmaster at 9:00am on Monday 18 February.
Tickets to the Melbourne Rebels v Lions Tour match will go on sale through Ticketek at 9:00am on Monday 18 February.
For information on the British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia visit the Official Lions Tour Website for videos, interviews, news, ticketing information and more.
