Are free tickets unfair for paying fans?

Monday 21 December 2009
Published By: Ben Welch
Magners League > Cardiff Blues

Giving away tickets for free in order to boost attendance happens in all sports, not just rugby union.

But one fan of the latter has asked whether such a practice is actually fair, with archie100 questioning the rumoured decision of Cardiff Blues to give seats away for nothing on the BBC's 606 discussion boards.

And he would appear to have a fair point. Why should the diehard supporters who pay good money for their season tickets end up shelling out more than 'plastic' followers, who are only willing to turn up if it doesn't cost them anything?

One respondent, steviegen, said that it isn't the club's fault, and that archie100 should be looking to attack those who decide to stay at home in the first place for forcing the Blues to take this measure.

But this then begs a question that has been being asked a lot in recent months. If Cardiff made the effort to play entertaining rugby, would they have a problem with low attendance in the first place?