WC: 2023 IIHF Worlds Attendance
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There were reports about tickets being severely overpriced, about boycotts from local Latvian fans because of the pricing, etc.
I'm certain that if the tickets were priced reasonably, most or all games would be sold out.
(The tickets were overpriced when the World Championships were last held in Slovakia, too, so I can't imagine how overpriced they must be now, in the current environment.)
I'm certain that if the tickets were priced reasonably, most or all games would be sold out.
(The tickets were overpriced when the World Championships were last held in Slovakia, too, so I can't imagine how overpriced they must be now, in the current environment.)
BlizzardSloth
Registered User
I should've made a screenshot of the prices when I checked day tickets in Riga some months ago. I was quite shocked by the pricing as it was quite close to what I've paid for my tickets in Switzerland for the (cancelled) 2020 worlds.
I got some day packages in Riga for around 100€ a game. A quick google search says that the average monthly salary in Latvia is just above 1000€.
Whether these data are accurate or not, these prices are absolutely ridiculous. Events like this should be accessible to locals.
Whether these data are accurate or not, these prices are absolutely ridiculous. Events like this should be accessible to locals.
I assure you that the data are accurate. Latvia is a post-Communist country just like Slovakia, and 1000 euros/dollars would be the typical monthly income of a regular person.
Of course you're not gonna sacrifice one tenth of your monthly income to watch a random goddamn hockey game. (Least of all one contested by foreign teams.)
Im going to 5 games in Riga next week.
29 eur-89 eur prices, where 29 euro is the cheapest tickets. Latvia & Switzerland games has the highest prices.
29 eur-89 eur prices, where 29 euro is the cheapest tickets. Latvia & Switzerland games has the highest prices.
I think around 20 – 30 euros might be considered affordable by regular persons in post-Communist Europe.
But for a game like France versus Kazakhstan, or other such games that no one really cares about, the price would need to drop to 10 euros or so, for regular people to show interest in buying them, and perhaps even that is too much.
That's why day tickets make a lot of sense: folks buy tickets for games that really interest them, and may just as well watch the less important games if they already have the ticket.
But if the day ticket price is prohibitive and can only be afforded by the wealthy, it's hopeless.
The pricing issue reminds me of comments about some of the U20 tournaments in recent years. The gouging of the fans is getting in the way of people attending.
Given all the turmoil in the world over the past 3+ years I don't think folks should be particularly surprised if attendance is down from where it was a few years ago.
Attendance for the WC seems to have a pretty wide variance anyway depending on the location/venues...
Current Year
2023: Finland/Latvia - 6651 (through 22 games)
Last 5 before COVID/War
2019: Slovakia - 7,357
2018: Denmark - 8,133
2017: Germany/France - 10,725
2016: Russia - 6,522
2015: Czech - 11,589
Last time Finland or Latvia (co) hosted before COVID/War:
2013: Finland/Sweden - 6685
2006: Latvia - 5,800
To be honest, outside of the pricing already being discussed, I'm not sure there is a whole lot to talk about here.
Attendance for the WC seems to have a pretty wide variance anyway depending on the location/venues...
Current Year
2023: Finland/Latvia - 6651 (through 22 games)
Last 5 before COVID/War
2019: Slovakia - 7,357
2018: Denmark - 8,133
2017: Germany/France - 10,725
2016: Russia - 6,522
2015: Czech - 11,589
Last time Finland or Latvia (co) hosted before COVID/War:
2013: Finland/Sweden - 6685
2006: Latvia - 5,800
To be honest, outside of the pricing already being discussed, I'm not sure there is a whole lot to talk about here.
Last edited:
GX
Registered User
- Dec 28, 2011
- 939
- 284
In Riga, the EUR 135 ticket price is reasonable for the lower bowl, both for Latvian and key foreign games, as they are largely sold out.
The problem is majority of upper bowl seats cost the same, with worst sectors at EUR 89. Amount of foreign fans and/or local demand just isn't deep enough to justify such a price point.
For less busy games, they've put EUR 89 as the main fee. No Latvian will pay such money to watch KAZ-SLO, or even CZE-SLO. EUR 30-50 would have helped to fill upper bowl.
(EUR 29 is a marketing gimmick, as it only applied to ~100-200 seats)
The problem is majority of upper bowl seats cost the same, with worst sectors at EUR 89. Amount of foreign fans and/or local demand just isn't deep enough to justify such a price point.
For less busy games, they've put EUR 89 as the main fee. No Latvian will pay such money to watch KAZ-SLO, or even CZE-SLO. EUR 30-50 would have helped to fill upper bowl.
(EUR 29 is a marketing gimmick, as it only applied to ~100-200 seats)
Czechboy
Náš f*cken barák!
- Apr 15, 2018
- 30,063
- 27,650
My gut says attendance will be up next year! Curious if Czech tickets are less expensive?
ozo
Registered User
- Feb 24, 2010
- 4,521
- 570
Yeah, being at the center of Europe is somewhat helpful too and Prague/Czech Republic offers plenty more to visitors than Riga.
Czechboy
Náš f*cken barák!
- Apr 15, 2018
- 30,063
- 27,650
Very true.. neighbours include Slovakia and Germany. I like to think it's our beautiful woman and inexpensive beer.lol
ellja3
Registered User
Yeah, the ticket prices are high.
When they released pricing, me and my hockey buddy thought it's some sort of a joke. I'll attend LV-SUI for 89EUR in upper bowl, but spending more on tickets just to see another (two?) round robin game? In something that is far, far from best-on-best? Nah. My salary is considerably higher than the avg mentioned above, so I could afford more, but, honestly, if it's between this and 200EUR ticket for NHL Global Series in Stockholm this November, I'd rather make a nice one-day trip to SWE (flights are cheap if bought early) than attend extra 2-3 games here; with limited star lineup. LV-SUI was also my choice as it can be a decider, instead of, say, LV-NOR yesterday.
Now IF Latvia makes quarterfinals, I'll be the first to jump on 130EUR QF ticket, but that's a different story entirely.
And yes, in general I am struggling to accept new reality of live sport pricing in Europe. It's coming in doses of not so small shocks and started with Tampere Global Series last year, and continues with Riga Worlds this year and my plan to attend F1 this year in Zandvoort. It's just loco when you think about it.
Edit: also attending CZE-CAN, but for 29EUR and their lineups it's not so unreasonable.
When they released pricing, me and my hockey buddy thought it's some sort of a joke. I'll attend LV-SUI for 89EUR in upper bowl, but spending more on tickets just to see another (two?) round robin game? In something that is far, far from best-on-best? Nah. My salary is considerably higher than the avg mentioned above, so I could afford more, but, honestly, if it's between this and 200EUR ticket for NHL Global Series in Stockholm this November, I'd rather make a nice one-day trip to SWE (flights are cheap if bought early) than attend extra 2-3 games here; with limited star lineup. LV-SUI was also my choice as it can be a decider, instead of, say, LV-NOR yesterday.
Now IF Latvia makes quarterfinals, I'll be the first to jump on 130EUR QF ticket, but that's a different story entirely.
And yes, in general I am struggling to accept new reality of live sport pricing in Europe. It's coming in doses of not so small shocks and started with Tampere Global Series last year, and continues with Riga Worlds this year and my plan to attend F1 this year in Zandvoort. It's just loco when you think about it.
Edit: also attending CZE-CAN, but for 29EUR and their lineups it's not so unreasonable.
There's not much of a story here. Tournaments organized by Finland tend to have relatively low attendance in general due to pricing and even then it's already increased from last year. These threads appear to be started mainly by Russia sycophants so make of that what you will.
jcbio11
Registered User
GX
Registered User
- Dec 28, 2011
- 939
- 284
The number of foreign fans in Riga 2023, compared to Riga 2006, though, is really high - back then only Swedes and Finns were here in thousands. This year the CZE-SVK opener had an attendance of 7500, 90% of which were their fans. Today there were easily 2000-3000 Swiss fans at SUI-SVK. Weekend breaks work well for fans to catch 3 games, it seems.
Yeah most likely Prague is close to pretty much the center of central europe aswell as being a traveldestination already. I would be surprised if the tickets aren’t more expensive.
Czechboy
Náš f*cken barák!
- Apr 15, 2018
- 30,063
- 27,650
I was hoping theyd be cheaper like the beer. Feel like this tournament is losing its vibe with high ticket prices. Make them cheaper and profit from all the people showing up and buying food, lodging and booze.
I would agree, make the entire tournament a party. Make it attractive make it special then you can raise the prices because people will pay for something extra. Right now it just has the stripped down Skoda vibe only the Sweden Finland game felt like the normal worlds out of Swedens games.
