While congratulating Manchester on a well organised Commonwealth Games and in particular the efficient park and ride system, we have some strong observations about seating and ticketing.
We booked the most expensive £40 tickets for the athletics stadium back in October last year, assuming (wrongly) that our seats would be some of the best in the stadium. We were given no choice of where we were to sit within the stadium plan.
When we arrived at our seats, we were surprised to find that we were on the opposite side of the stadium to the 100 metre semi-finals and finals and the finishing line for all the races. What was even more galling was that we saw most of the best seats were occupied by athletes, press, officials, celebrities and royals, many of whom, no doubt had not paid anything. Is this not just another case of British 'elitism' with 'rip-off' for the rest of us!
What is the solution? One improvement that we can suggest is that at all international athletics meetings, half the races, including sprints and hurdles, are arranged to finish on the opposite side of the stadium from the 'elite' non-paying spectators. Furthermore, all spectators should be given the exact position in the stadium where they will be sitting before committing themselves to purchasing expensive seats (as they are in the theatre and elsewhere).
Dr John Turner
Professor David Farnham
Ms Andrea Turner
Worsley
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