Ticket prices for the 2027 Ashes Tests have increased substantially, with some top-tier seats costing nearly one and a half times more than in 2023, sparking widespread fan astonishment and anger. The ballot for tickets across all five venues opened Wednesday under the direction of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
At Edgbaston, the cheapest adult seat for the July 8-12 matches is £115. Seats in the popular Eric Hollies Stand are priced at £165, a 43% increase from the £115 charged for the corresponding fixture in 2023. The most expensive general admission tickets at Edgbaston, located in the City End Social, are set at £250. Each ticket also incurs an additional £2.50 booking charge.
An Edgbaston Stadium spokesperson defended the price increase, stating that the costs are broadly in line with other major British sporting events and that prices generally track inflation compared to the 2023 Ashes. The spokesperson cited rising operational costs as a contributing factor.
While Edgbaston's top prices remain lower than those at Lord's and The Oval in London, the overall increase is a concern for fans, particularly those in the north of England who must travel to Birmingham or Nottingham.
Nottinghamshire is attempting to reward fan loyalty by capping all members' tickets at the Stuart Broad End at £90, with a limit of two tickets per member. Public entry tickets at Trent Bridge range from £99 for the first three days to £85 for day four, with fifth-day tickets at a flat rate of £40.
Lord's has seen a more modest increase, with prices ranging from £125 to £195, an increase of less than 2.5% from the £115-£190 range in the 2023 Ashes. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which owns Lord's, has also made more restricted view tickets available at £100 and increased the proportion of Under-16 seats.
Despite the pricing controversies, demand for Ashes tickets remains exceptionally high. An executive involved in ticketing stated that demand could be met three times over, necessitating a balance between accessibility and maximizing income from the event.
The Oval's pricing structure reflects a similar approach to inflation, with the most expensive seats at £185 and 1,000 of the 27,500 available tickets priced at £115. These prices represent an increase from £105 and £165 respectively in 2023. Members receive a discount.
Hampshire's Utilita Bowl, hosting an Ashes match for the first time, has entry-level prices starting at £95 for adults and £45 for Under-17s for the first four days, dropping to £35 and £10 for the fifth day.
Meanwhile, Warwickshire has faced challenges selling tickets for the upcoming Test match between England and Pakistan, with approximately 12,000 tickets sold for the first two days. However, confidence remains for a reduced capacity crowd of 19,000 for the third day, despite ongoing reconstruction work at Edgbaston.