The Rugby League World Cup has been truly special over the last week, but it hasn’t been without its drawbacks.
The main one being the complaints about low attendances and ticket prices taking away from the brilliant spectacle on the pitch which peaked last night with a classic encounter between Papua New Guinea and Tonga which was decided 24-18 in the way of Tonga due to a late try on a night on which Rhyse Martin equalled the world record for the most goals in a row without missing at 41.
However, the game was overshadowed by complaints on social media when fans pointed out that cheap £25 seats were down as sold out forcing anyone who wanted a seat to pay for a more expensive ticket rather than a £25 one in the corner of the stadium.
This led to speculation that this was intentional to force fans into buying more expensive tickets.
We haven’t had a mystery of missing fans like this since Leeds Rhinos (didn’t) visit in June.
Evidence suggests £25 tickets weren’t released for sale forcing fans wishing to sit down to buy higher priced tickets. Prove us wrong @jon_dutton72 @RLWC2021 ?
Taking fans for mugs! pic.twitter.com/SeNNfZoppP
— RedVee.Net (@RedVeeDotNet) October 18, 2022
However, World Cup organisers have responded with a statement on social media apologising for this and revealing that it was blocked off for broadcasting purposes which were subsequently not used:
“We’re aware that a block of £25 tickets were marked as sold out for last night’s fixture. This area was blocked off as a broadcasting platform which unfortunately was not used. It will however be used in Game 2 on Monday evening.
“We’d like to apologise to fans and ask anyone who was impacted to get in touch with enquiries@rlwc2021.com”
We’re aware that a block of £25 tickets were marked as sold out for last night’s fixture. This area was blocked off as a broadcasting platform which unfortunately was not used. It will however be used in Game 2 on Monday evening.
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) October 19, 2022