An update on ticket sales for the first Test of the Rugby League Ashes at Wembley has been issued and it makes for very positive news.
Almost 40,000 tickets for the game at the national stadium on October 25th have been sold already with officials hopeful that a crowd of 70,000 can be attained, a figure that would break the record set for an international rugby league game at the stadium.
That record dates back to the 2013 Rugby League World Cup where many will remember host nation England’s devastating defeat to New Zealand, courtesy of some late Shaun Johnson magic.
England’s defeat to the Kiwis was part of a double header with the other semi-final, between Australia and Fiji, played on the same day.
As a result, the attendance for both matches was officially locked in at 67,545 but there are hopes that this year’s Ashes opener could surpass that and even break past the 70,000 milestone, which hasn’t been broken since the 2016 Challenge Cup Final.
Rugby League Commercial confirm Ashes tickets update
At a press briefing, Rugby League Commercial Managing Director Rhodri Jones provided an update on a number of matters across the game including the fact that Super League Grand Final ticket sales are up 25% with a crowd of 70,000 or more hopeful for that game.
Speaking about the Ashes though, he confirmed overall ticket sales for the three matches stood at 110,000 with almost 40,000 of those at Wembley.
The second and third Tests at Everton’s new stadium and Headingley have already sold out and marketing for the opening game at Wembley is set to ramp up in the coming weeks in a bid to reach that 70,000 attendance.
Jones explained: “When we go the Ashes as well, two of the three have sold out and we’re at about 110,000 tickets sold now which makes for about 39,000 for that Wembley fixture at the moment.
“Our target there is 65,000 to 70,000 with a lot of marketing activity to start in earnest come September, particularly in London.”
Australia are expected to travel well in terms of fans for what will be the first Ashes series in over 20 years, a series that has been long in the making and is trending towards having a crowd befitting of such an occasion.
