Soccer packages what a rip off.

patmac

I have been listening to the horror stories of Liverpool fans trip to Athens on the radio over the last few days and you would want to be out of your mind to go to these major events now.
October 2003 Ireland v France match in Paris 2 nights 4 star hotel, transfers, match ticket, price €399, Celtic Horizon tours.
May 23rd 2007 Liverpool v Milan in Athens 3 nights 3 star hotel, transfers, match ticket which never arrived, price €2300 Bernie Travel whose owner was taken into custody for his own protection.

Other stories fans arrive in Liverpool with tickets plane is cancelled.
Fans arrive at the match get through one barrier tickets verified, stopped from going through second barrier and sprayed with Mace, eventually get through and are stopped at third barrier as the ground is full from forged tickets.
The average fan has been totally priced out of going to these 'epic' occasions, and because of demand every gangster is making a killing from forgeries, black market etc. The corporates are getting so many tickets many of which are ending up in the hands of touts, but the authorities/clubs don't want to tackle the issue for fear of offending their sponsors.

Why would you bother when you could see the game for the price of a few pints down the local.
What can be done about it?

zAbbo

Stop buying tickets from touts and tout tours.

Benedict XVI

patmac wrote:

I have been listening to the horror stories of Liverpool fans trip to Athens on the radio over the last few days and you would want to be out of your mind to go to these major events now.
October 2003 Ireland v France match in Paris 2 nights 4 star hotel, transfers, match ticket, price €399, Celtic Horizon tours.
May 23rd 2007 Liverpool v Milan in Athens 3 nights 3 star hotel, transfers, match ticket which never arrived, price €2300 Bernie Travel whose owner was taken into custody for his own protection.

Other stories fans arrive in Liverpool with tickets plane is cancelled.
Fans arrive at the match get through one barrier tickets verified, stopped from going through second barrier and sprayed with Mace, eventually get through and are stopped at third barrier as the ground is full from forged tickets.
The average fan has been totally priced out of going to these 'epic' occasions, and because of demand every gangster is making a killing from forgeries, black market etc. The corporates are getting so many tickets many of which are ending up in the hands of touts, but the authorities/clubs don't want to tackle the issue for fear of offending their sponsors.

Why would you bother when you could see the game for the price of a few pints down the local.
What can be done about it?

With regard to the price of packages nothing can be done about it, it's called the open market

I'm sure the trips for $2000 + were fully subscribed.

If people ('real' fans or not) are willing to pay the price then there will be packages there at those prices.

BTW the comparison between Ireland v France and CL final is not valid, Paris is much easier to get to from Ireland than Athens is and has much more accommodation options.

I'm sure the Arsenal v Barac CL final in Paris was more 'reasonably' prices.

Blackjack

zabbo wrote:

Stop buying tickets from touts and tout tours.

Yep, simple supply and demand. If people refuse to buy from these people, then these people will discontinue the practise.