Empty Seats or Full House? Springboks Ticket Sales for Cape Town Clash Under Scrutiny

South Africans love their rugby, but as the Springboks prepare to face the Wallabies in Cape Town this weekend, the big question is whether the stands will actually be full.

Ellis Park’s Warning Sign

Last Saturday’s Rugby Championship opener at Ellis Park raised eyebrows when thousands of seats went unclaimed, even after Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie’s department handed out 2 000 free tickets. The official attendance still fell roughly 10 000 short of capacity.

That image of empty seats at one of rugby’s most historic venues has sparked concern about whether Cape Town will deliver a sell-out crowd.

Price Tag or Passion?

A quick scan of the Ticketmaster website shows that plenty of tickets remain, especially in the premium R3 500-plus bracket. For many households, that’s simply out of reach. Fans on social media have been quick to draw comparisons, pointing out that a month of DStv – where you can watch every Test from the comfort of your couch – costs around R1 000.

One X user put it bluntly: “Love the Boks, but R3 500 to sit in traffic and rain? My TV works just fine.”

Cape Town Stadium Challenges

The venue itself doesn’t make things easier. Cape Town Stadium has long been criticised for its traffic bottlenecks and parking headaches. Add the forecast of rain on Saturday evening, and the casual supporter might think twice before making the trek.

Not the First Time

This isn’t an isolated issue. Ticket sales for the Boks’ July Test series – against Italy in Pretoria and Port Elizabeth, and Georgia in Nelspruit – also failed to hit capacity. It’s a trend that has sparked a bigger conversation about accessibility, pricing, and whether rugby is reaching all South Africans who want to be part of the experience.

SA Rugby’s View

Despite the patchy ticket sales, SA Rugby has been quick to stress the positives. Broadcast numbers remain strong, with millions tuning in to support the world champions from home. The Boks also remain a powerful commercial brand globally, still basking in the glow of their 2023 Rugby World Cup triumph.

One Last Chance

After this weekend’s showdown, only one more Springbok Test will be played on home soil this year – against Argentina at Kings Park in Durban on 27 September. That means South African fans have limited opportunities to see Siya Kolisi and his men in the flesh before the team spends much of the season abroad.

The question is whether the powers that be will once again resort to free ticket handouts to fill the stands, or if South Africans will dig deep to pack Cape Town Stadium in true Bokke spirit.

Source:The South African 

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