The Lord’s is expected to lose Rs. 45 crore in revenue from ticket sales after India failed to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, a report in The Times on Monday claimed.
Anticipating India to make the title match, scheduled for June 7-11, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) had priced its tickets at premium rates, expecting demand from Indian fans. However, the prices had to be revised once India missed out on qualifying after its 3-1 series defeat in Australia.
“Once it became clear that India would not feature in the final, MCC opted to lower ticket prices. The decision intended to prioritise a fuller, more vibrant stadium over the prospect of a sparsely populated ground with higher-priced seats,” the news report mentioned.
The report added that the tickets for the final between South Africa and Australia are now priced between £40 and £90 (Rs. 4,500 to Rs. 10,100). “The updated price bracket is roughly £50 cheaper than the tickets had originally been priced,” the report mentioned.
The loss in revenue highlights the importance of the Indian team and its fans in driving the finances in the sport.
