State of Origin Brisbane tickets: fans face mad scramble

* * * NSW SUPPORTERS STOP READING NOW * * *

Maroons fans that aren't members of an NRL club, or take up a membership package with the Queensland Rugby League, face a mad scramble to be on hand for the Origin opener at Suncorp Stadium on May 28.

General admission tickets will go on sale later this month (date to be confirmed) but it will be the luck of the draw for punters who haven't signed up with their favourite team or invested in the ticketing bundles on offer by the governing body north of the Tweed.

Queensland will host two games in 2014, with the Maroons trying to win an incredible ninth consecutive interstate series. It seems the appetite for Origin football has never been higher - and nor has the price.

In 2008, the most expensive seat in Brisbane cost an adult $112.10. Now, a sideline position in gold seating costs $250, meaning a pair of tickets plus food and drinks could easily make it a $600 night out and beyond.

NRL club members had the chance to get in first and purchase their tickets on Wednesday. The cheapest available seats, behind the trylines in the very top tier of nosebleeds, retail at $80 each.

The other way to secure tickets is through a membership deal with the QRL, which includes a grab bag of goodies like DVDs, a maroon wig and a XXXX brewery tour.

NRL club member and Maroon Membership pre-sales have started, with tickets released to the general public later this month.

So far, 3700 Maroon Membership tickets have been sold.

A pair of category one tickets for game one will set Origin attendees back a whopping $575, with a double pass in category three $325. Category two tickets are $515 for the pair.

The skyrocketing ticket prices are a reflection of the enormous growth in the Origin concept, despite the lop-sided nature of the past eight years of on-field combat between Queensland and NSW.

It also reflects the immense push within rugby league circles for fans to not only become members of their club but in this case, members of their state organisation.

Bodies like Cricket Australia have long urged fans to become members of their supporter 'family' to ensure they have first crack at tickets for high-demand events like Ashes Tests. It's a model also used by music promoters.

The QRL has taken that concept a step further but making a proportion of Origin tickets available only to those that invest in a bundle that includes tickets, various supporter gear and the opportunity to win prizes and VIP experiences.

The New South Wales Rugby League doesn't currently offer a similar package, with fans thinking of heading to Origin II at ANZ Stadium simply able to reserve their seats through a ticketing agency.

There's little doubt there will be some backlash among Queensland punters at the prices of Origin tickets, as well as the hoops required to jump through to get them before the rush for general admission.

But the sheer demand means there won't be a spare seat at either game, while the QRL says it ploughs all of the money (aside from a profit from a portion of the memberships) back into the game.

QRL chief executive Rob Moore said he believed the packages now on sale offered "the best way for fans to engage with the team and show their passion for Queensland".

“We are committed to growing Maroon Membership, and this falls in line with the NRL's dedicated focus on three key areas – football and participation, fans and members and financial security/governance,” he said.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugb...#ixzz2v9SYHbaO