World Cup Tickets Selling for 327% above Face Value

May 8th, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

If you have been surfing around the Web looking for World Cup tickets, you know that the prices for matches are through the roof. A new study quantifies just how much money ticket touts are making on the markup. According to G4S Security Services in the UK, on average World Cup tickets on unauthorized sites are selling for 327% more than the original sale price set by FIFA with tickets to the semifinals going for 662% above face value.

While these numbers are outrageous, they aren’t surprising given how FIFA allocated most of the tickets to sponsors, wealthy individuals and the politically connected. That leaves average fans desperate to see their team play forced to pay crazy amounts to the ticket touts.

The question I always have is how the touts get their tickets. Back in 2002, there were allegations that a number of unauthorized tickets came from football federation insiders. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if this were the case again this year.

From my perspective, the whole situation has been set up to benefit a very select few – FIFA’s cronies and their corporate sponsors. The way this game is being played it is the average fan who is losing. Losing to the tune of 327%.

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http://www.worldcup2006news.net/ Knut Karnapp

That´s crazy, I hope we don´t have empty stadiums on the other hand.
http://www.worldcup2006news.net/2006/05/08/be-careful-on-buying-tickets/ World Cup 2006 News- World Cup 2006 Germany Soccer Blog

[...] First things first. Today Bob´s pointing to the enormous prices that World Cup Tickets have reached so far. He sure is right about that. On the other hand I hope we don´t get empty stadiums that way as we had in France 1998, but I don´t really think so. Well, my point actually is something else. Be careful on buying tickets from websites these days. [...]
http://fifa2006worldcup.org/?p=7 327% Mark Up On World Cup Tickets » FIFA World Cup™ Blog

[...] According to this , World Cup tickets are currently trading illegally (this means you, touts) at an average 327% of their face value, with tickets for the latter stages at a wallet emptying 662%. And according to this, one pair of tickets to an England group game sold for over 20 times their original value. Of course, the touts are to blame. But being the evil, blood-sucking, never seen a girl naked parasites that they are, how can they resist squeezing every possible penny out of desperate footy fans? [...]