David Lloyd unhappy with ticket prices for England-India Lord's Test
Former England cricketer David Lloyd has expressed his disapproval over the increased ticket prices for the upcoming Lord's Test between England and India. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), owner of Lord's, has faced criticism for this decision, particularly after a lukewarm fan response to the game against Sri Lanka earlier this year. The five-match Test series between England and India is set to commence on June 20 next year, with the third match scheduled at Lord's from July 10.
Lloyd voices concerns over ticket pricing
The cheapest tickets for the Lord's Test are priced at £90 each, offering restricted views. Fans seeking unrestricted views will have to pay between £120-£175. This is a significant increase from last month's Test against Sri Lanka, where tickets with restricted views ranged from £115 to £140. Despite this price range, only 9,000 spectators attended the match on day four, filling just one third of the stadium capacity.
Lloyd warns of Test cricket becoming an elite showpiece
In his column for Daily Mail, Lloyd expressed his concern about the future of Test cricket due to high ticket prices. He warned that "Test cricket is in danger of becoming an elite showpiece, of narrowing the cross section of society who will even consider attending such an event." He questioned the decision-makers behind these prices and empathized with fans who find them unaffordable.
MCC's response to ticket pricing criticism
In response to the criticism, Guy Lavender, the chief executive and secretary of MCC, has announced a review into its fourth-day pricing policy. However, there are minimal concessions for fans hoping to attend on that day for next year's India Test. Under-16s will be admitted for £25, half the cost of the first three days but tickets with a full view will still cost £90-£150.
MCC justifies ticket prices for India Test
The MCC has justified the high ticket prices by stating that India is now the second-biggest draw in the English Test calendar, after Australia. The club argues that these prices reflect likely demand and are consistent with policies adopted by other sports. For comparison, top-priced tickets for the 2023 Ashes Test were £170, which according to the club represents a below-inflation increase of £5.
