A Big Middle Finger To The Fans

Sport is nothing without fans. They pay the money that lines the athletes’ pockets; there is really no doubting that. The Premier League wouldn’t be as profitable with teams playing in front of empty grounds week in week out for example.

Yet, the biggest fight in boxing for over twenty years seems to have stuck its middle finger up to the fans of the sport. It’s a fight that fans have been demanding for five years, it’s been five long years of fans screaming about how their guy is going to win.

Let’s leave the long wait, and constant reasons that this fight couldn’t happen when these guys were close to their peak, and look at more recent events. The one that really sticks in my mind is the ticket fiasco. Ignore that a fight of this magnitude is happening in a 16,500 capacity arena, and focus on the fact that just 1000 tickets were made available for general sale.

The prices for tickets were; $10,000, $7,500, $5000, $3,500, $2,500 and $1,500 but none of the $10,000 tickets were put on general sale. These tickets then sold out within 60 seconds, and are now resale sites for up to £47,000. So not only did the fans get very few tickets, there was nothing in place to stop scalpers snapping all of those tickets up, and making a huge profit.

Now, if you still want to head out to the strip to sample the fight atmosphere you could. As always MGM are offering fans the chance to watch the fight on closed circuit feeds, tickets for this were originally being sold for $150. But once again, these are now on resale sights for up to $650.

Then there’s the cost of the pay per view, $90 for standard definition, $100 for HD. The prices are extortionate and hold fans in America to ransom sadly. We’re lucky in the UK that the price is £19.95 if you book before midnight on Friday May 1st.

I am sure that people reading this will see it as nothing more than a rant, and I guess it is. But for a fight that is this big, they’ve really cut out the fans. There is a part of me that would love this fight to bomb when it comes to PPV sales, but sadly I can’t see that happening.

Let’s hope it lives up to the hype, sadly I can’t see it coming close.

http://www.v2boxing.co.uk/#!A-Big-Middle-Finger-To-The-Fans/c1xmj/553e36410cf21fee134cb4b9

One little gripe, the cost in the UK only goes up if booking via telephone but in general it's extortionate in America but not sure why that surprises anybody.

Sucks but Boxing is no worse than other sports....

Could a blue collar guy take his kids to watch Arsenal ??

Boxing rely's more than football on it's fans. Price out the average Joe and they'll eventually turn on you (the boxer) after that it's more downhill than normal.

In a perfect world the PPV would do really badly, showing that these prices are unacceptable, unfortunately that's not going to happen and instead will now be the blueprint to do the really big fights.

Derbymanc wrote:Boxing rely's more than football on it's fans. Price out the average Joe and they'll eventually turn on you (the boxer) after that it's more downhill than normal..

Really ??????

TV money is most important...at the highest level..

This fight doesn't need it's fans.............As most of the posters on here and Boxing fans on the net seem to be disgusted at Clev-Bellew being PPv and it still made 200,000............Not sure how reliant Boxing is on them anyway.......

Boxing needs TV money.............

You got me on that one Truss 

Although I stand by part of what I said, boxing really needs to be getting the fans in now, not turning them away. This year will be a big tell on how much the fans will swallow (in the uk anyhow) if Big Ed puts on another lacklustre PPV or if people will pay for his next PPV without a superstar on it.

$650 for closed circuit tickets?

A fool and his money...

If there were other big names about they wouldn't be able take the p**s...........

A Big Middle Finger To The Fans

Truss would enjoy a big middle finger...

But anyway

Is a disgrace... But it's business, they've maximised the gate takings. On the other hand both parties are already minted, so should they have been more sympathetic to the fans?

Am pretty amazed that someone hasn't thought of building a 50,000 seater indoor arena in Vegas. Saying that Strongy has probably already got planning permission and is laying the foundations as we speak.

We're pretty lucky that this is only costing £20 over here.

If you go to Vegas what exactly do you get for your money? A Maximum of 36 minutes of what could be a real barnstormer still works out over $1000 an hour just to watch it on a TV screen in an associated venue. That's a best case scenario of course, you get the distinct possibility it could be just another Mayweather disciplined and quiet schooling. Perhaps it could be dull until a single punch ends it early? Maybe it's another haggler V Hearns... but as Milky pointed out, brilliant fight but too brief to be entirely fulfilling. Bottom line is, if you're in Vegas and paying to watch this then it's likely the only people walking away satisfied will be those that cashed in on the circus and hype. Casinos and touts will no doubt look back on all this with fond memories whilst I think many ordinary people will have a little regret when it's all over and their bank balances look a little less healthy ( travel, accommodation, food and drink and gambling in addition to the extortionate prices for the fight itself would hurt the average BMW owner in the UK ). It's a fight for the very high fliers. Hatton couldn't even get tickets and will be watching in a Hotel.

£20 to watch it in the UK on PPV never seemed such a great bargain. The only real shame for us is it's on at stupid-o'clock in the morning.

£20 to watch it in the UK on PPV never seemed such a great bargain. The only real shame for us is it's on at stupid-o'clock in the morning

Surely that means we've all got license to not get moaned at by our other halves for drinking beyond 11pm?!

DuransHorse wrote:If you go to Vegas what exactly do you get for your money?  A Maximum of 36 minutes of what could be a real barnstormer still works out over $1000 an hour just to watch it on a TV screen in an associated venue.  That's a best case scenario of course, you get the distinct possibility it could be just another Mayweather disciplined and quiet schooling.  Perhaps it could be dull until a single punch ends it early?  Maybe it's another haggler V Hearns... but as Milky pointed out, brilliant fight but too brief to be entirely fulfilling.  Bottom line is, if you're in Vegas and paying to watch this then it's likely the only people walking away satisfied will be those that cashed in on the circus and hype.  Casinos and touts will no doubt look back on all this with fond memories whilst I think many ordinary people will have a little regret when it's all over and their bank balances look a little less healthy ( travel, accommodation, food and drink and gambling in addition to the extortionate prices for the fight itself would hurt the average BMW owner in the UK ).  It's a fight for the very high fliers.  Hatton couldn't even get tickets and will be watching in a Hotel.

£20 to watch it in the UK on PPV never seemed such a great bargain.  The only real shame for us is it's on at stupid-o'clock in the morning.

If you've got the money it's probably worth it like everything else.........

My in-laws tend to drink Taittinger champagne............Me I wouldn't spend money on a drink that tastes no different in my opinion to Freixenet.....

But if you can afford it then you aren't really losing anything.......

Been to New York many times and been to the stinky Atlantic City a fair few.................Never been to Vegas and to be honest never really wanted to go...

Coxy001 wrote:

£20 to watch it in the UK on PPV never seemed such a great bargain. The only real shame for us is it's on at stupid-o'clock in the morning

Surely that means we've all got license to not get moaned at by our other halves for drinking beyond 11pm?!

11pm? I used to get moaned at if I drank past 8pm!! Can see why that ended.

hampo171 wrote:

Coxy001 wrote:

£20 to watch it in the UK on PPV never seemed such a great bargain. The only real shame for us is it's on at stupid-o'clock in the morning

Surely that means we've all got license to not get moaned at by our other halves for drinking beyond 11pm?!

11pm? I used to get moaned at if I drank past 8pm!! Can see why that ended.

Always thought you were single Coxy............(I'm not having a pop)

Last time I went out I was yawning at 11pm...........We both looked at eachother and said F**k it let's go home..

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:

DuransHorse wrote:If you go to Vegas what exactly do you get for your money?  A Maximum of 36 minutes of what could be a real barnstormer still works out over $1000 an hour just to watch it on a TV screen in an associated venue.  That's a best case scenario of course, you get the distinct possibility it could be just another Mayweather disciplined and quiet schooling.  Perhaps it could be dull until a single punch ends it early?  Maybe it's another haggler V Hearns... but as Milky pointed out, brilliant fight but too brief to be entirely fulfilling.  Bottom line is, if you're in Vegas and paying to watch this then it's likely the only people walking away satisfied will be those that cashed in on the circus and hype.  Casinos and touts will no doubt look back on all this with fond memories whilst I think many ordinary people will have a little regret when it's all over and their bank balances look a little less healthy ( travel, accommodation, food and drink and gambling in addition to the extortionate prices for the fight itself would hurt the average BMW owner in the UK ).  It's a fight for the very high fliers.  Hatton couldn't even get tickets and will be watching in a Hotel.

£20 to watch it in the UK on PPV never seemed such a great bargain.  The only real shame for us is it's on at stupid-o'clock in the morning.

If you've got the money it's probably worth it like everything else.........

My in-laws tend to drink Taittinger champagne............Me I wouldn't spend money on a drink that tastes no different in my opinion to Freixenet.....

But if you can afford it then you aren't really losing anything.......

Been to New York many times and been to the stinky Atlantic City a fair few.................Never been to Vegas and to be honest never really wanted to go...

Completely agree. It's just mad that to be able to attend the fight itself you almost certainly need well over a million in the bank for it not to hurt. Unless you got incredibly lucky and got one of the cheapest tickets directly from the venue rather than resale, also booking your hotel and flights early, it's an 'over the average Joe's annual salary before tax' kind of weekend.

I imagine Derbs that It's just not watching the fight that counts....but being there among fellow "achievers"

Which counts to most..

Think that is the real issue with this situation, even allowing for the tickets being ridiculously expensive the number that will have been actually been sold directly to a fan, for that fan to attend will probably barely break double figures. That can't be right, or healthy for the sport.

Rowley wrote:Think that is the real issue with this situation, even allowing for the tickets being ridiculously expensive the number that will have been actually been sold directly to a fan, for that fan to attend will probably barely break double figures. That can't be right, or healthy for the sport.

This site has a lot of UK readers Rowls. I would bet there isn't one normal fan that even knows another normal fan that will be in the MGM on the night. The truth is, even at the lowest price, when you throw in all costs it's going to costs a fair few grand anyway. Chances of someone from the UK going on Ticketmaster and managing to get their hands on one of the very few lowest priced tickets released ( $1,500 face value ) is not far off lottery odds.

I have been to Vegas for a fight before, I am not a wealthy man by any stretch, but as a holiday it can be done. The package I bought was about a grand a person for fight tickets, flights and hotels, chuck in some spends and whilst it is a pretty expensive holiday it is not beyond the realms. Truth is you would be extremely lucky to get one fight ticket for this fight for what me and the TSMR paid in total.

What was yours, Hatton-Castillo?

Hatton Mayweather

Oh, not bad!

Rowley wrote:I have been to Vegas for a fight before, I am not a wealthy man by any stretch, but as a holiday it can be done. The package I bought was about a grand a person for fight tickets, flights and hotels, chuck in some spends and whilst it is a pretty expensive holiday it is not beyond the realms. Truth is you would be extremely lucky to get one fight ticket for this fight for what me and the TSMR paid in total.

I've been to Vegas but not for a fight.  If I ever go back that would be my reason.  It seems the cheapest tickets alone will costs you the same as your package, Rowls.  I know the hotels that have all put their prices up.  There are bound to be other hiked prices when you get there, maybe even the flights ( I don't know this ).  

If there's a regular fan attending and reading this they should come on/sign up and tell us about it.  I'm betting there isn't one but if so they could be on the next podcast.

Much as I enjoyed it if I was to go back (that should read when I go back) I think I would go for a different sort of fight. There were times being in the bars over there were like drinking on Deansgate

A tough Yorkshireman like you Rowla would have emptied those bars in no time !!

I heard even heard Judah tried to leg it into an elevator when he saw you !!

Nowt wrong with that Rowls, if you get really lucky you might bump into the wondrous person that is me :-)

I always got the impression that that's what following Hatton would be like, being at home but the weather being nicer.

Derbymanc wrote:Nowt wrong with that Rowls, if you get really lucky you might bump into the wondrous person that is me :-)

I always got the impression that that's what following Hatton would be like, being at home but the weather being nicer.

Imagine If you'd nipped to get a coffee at the start of Manny-Hatton..........."has it started guys"....

Tom Selleck went to get a coffee at the start of Shuler-Hearns...........Came back to find Shuler horizontal....

Rowley wrote:Much as I enjoyed it if I was to go back (that should read when I go back) I think I would go for a different sort of fight. There were times being in the bars over there were like drinking on Deansgate

Kasimdzhanov vs Kasparov for the proper world chess champion that they couldn't get made 10 years ago?

You'd fit right in with that crowd in the bar Rowls

Coxy001 wrote:

Rowley wrote:Much as I enjoyed it if I was to go back (that should read when I go back) I think I would go for a different sort of fight. There were times being in the bars over there were like drinking on Deansgate

Kasimdzhanov vs Kasparov for the proper world chess champion that they couldn't get made 10 years ago?

You'd fit right in with that crowd in the bar Rowls

More of a Karpov man myself..

Kramnik was clearly considered the champion 10 years ago after his match with Kasparov, the FIDE champions had little credibility.

Scottrf wrote:Kramnik was clearly considered the champion 10 years ago after his match with Kasparov, the FIDE champions had little credibility.

For fear of getting in to a debate on chess (I used to follow it to a mildly interested degree)....... To be honest Scott I could barely remember the intricacies of the whole thing and had to Google his ruddy name, so for fear of this becoming a debate on chess I was just using the sport as an example to poke something at Rowls.

I could have used snooker but I find that even more boring and Ronnie "I don't like snooker / why don't you just give up, shut up and pi$$ off then" Sullivan.

I do quite like Chess coxy, one of my great frustrations in life is that I am not very good at it. Should have played safe and gone for Fischer Spassky.

Play chess with my Wife a lot.........I like to try to get "inside" her sicilian defence....

Usually ends in stale mate though..

Looks like bar owners in the States do not get exempted from being screwed over in this one either:

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/apr/28/floyd-mayweather-manny-pacquiao-fight-pay-per-view-cops