Ticket prices for Crawford vs Madrimov remain a sore topic as fight week gets underway for the debut of Riyadh Season in the United States.
Terence Crawford challenges Israil Madrimov for the WBA super welterweight crown as both fight it out for the vacant WBO title at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. His Excellency Turki Alalshikh has put together a solid card for the show, but far from ‘the best ever bill in the United States’ as proclaimed by promoter Eddie Hearn.
Andy Ruiz Jr. and Isaac Cruz bolster the main event in bouts that both are expected to win, with many fans and some media accusing organizers of getting the pricing wrong.
One disgruntled prospective purchaser said, “An outdoor card in the hottest month in California with nosebleed seats in the $200 range will kill any card. I’m a lifelong boxing fan. It’s beyond insulting that seats in the “good” viewing range are 700 dollars. What in the holy f*** is that?”
Crawford vs Madrimov tickets
World Boxing News reported a couple of weeks ago that sales were slow as those who wanted to attend awaited a price drop. At the time, the lowest-priced seats were $200, with ringside at $2000. Golden Boy has moved to offer a 15 percent discount using the code ‘GoldenBoy.’ However, it will still take a massive push over the next few days to make it to a sellout.
Boxing reporter Steve Kim believes the event needs to succeed despite the price point.
As we begin Crawford-Madrimov fight week, just one thought for those in the Los Angeles/Southern California area — you may want to go to it. Because the bottom line is that Im not sure how many shows of this caliber will come back here to our area…. #boxing
– For the most…
— Steve Kim (Pres. of the Elija Lofton Fan Club) (@SteveKim323) July 28, 2024
“Now, it has to be said, the way the tickets were priced didn’t help the sales [which have struggled]. Outside entities have learned the hard way [that] the American boxing market is much more difficult than other parts of the world. We have more entertainment and sports options, and boxing in the U.S. has long been a niche sport.
“So, for those who felt the prices were too steep and don’t have the means, I understand perfectly. I’m not here to lecture anyone on what they do with their money. That said, this is a very good card, and I look forward to being at BMO Stadium on Saturday.”
Additionally, fans could be worried that a new trend is on the verge of being set with the addition of Middle Eastern investors.
Does that mean the end of the ‘cheap seats’ for supporters in the future? – Only time will tell, as better boxing cards will mean steeper pricing, especially in this day and age.
Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay. Learn more about the author, experienced boxing writer, and World Boxing News Editor since 2010. Follow on Twitter @PhilJWBN.
