Glasgow 2014 launches "family-friendly" ticketing strategy and competition schedule

By Duncan Mackay

May 13 - Two-thirds of the million tickets to watch next year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will be priced at £25 ($38/€30) or less, with only eight per cent going to corporate sponsors, it was announced today.

Scottish organisers claimed that the family-friendly ticketing strategy was focused on delivering packed stadia and a "Games for Everyone", with ticketing for adults starting at just £15 (£23/€18) for the event which is due to take place between July 23 and August 4, 2014.

Prices for the Opening Ceremony start at £40 ($61/€47) and the Closing Ceremony at £30 ($46/€36), with the most expensive ticket for the 100 metres will be £90 ($138/€107).

For the first time in the history of the Commonwealth Games half-price concessions will also be available for children and the over-60s.

The price of a ticket includes access to public transport in the local area on the day of the event.

"This is a big day for Glasgow 2014 and one that has taken a substantial amount of planning," said Lord Smith, the chairman of Glasgow 2014.

"This isn't just about selling a million tickets.

"It's about making the Games accessible to all.

"We have spent many months designing a ticketing programme that reflects the vision and values of Glasgow 2014.

"Today's the day we set out our stall."

Tickets for the Opening Ceremony of Glasgow 2014 will start at £30

Glasgow 2014 have promised a simple and accessible ticketing process and pledged that at least 70 per cent of all tickets to all events would be available to the public.

Unlike London 2012, they will not base this figure on a general average so some events might be as low as 30 per cent public tickets, where others are 95 per cent,

Glasgow 2014 is promising, whether it is a preliminary session on the first day or the 100m final, a minimum of 70 per cent of sport tickets will be available for general sale.

They have also revealed that, apart from a small number, sponsors of the Games will be expected to pay for tickets.

The competition schedule was also revealed for the first time with 12 sports taking place on day one, including swimming and track cycling.

Athletics at Hampden Park is scheduled to start on July 27, the first Sunday of the Games.

It was also announced that the ticketing process will launch on August 19, 2013, and ticket applications can be made online with debit or credit cards until September 16.

Glasgow 2014 graphic

Glasgow 2014 is claiming that 70 per cent of tickets for every session of the Games, including the men's 100m final they hope will feature Usain Bolt, will go to the public

Organisers claim it will make no difference whether oepole apply on the first or last day of this four-week window.

A postal application service will also be available.

But, for high demand sports and sessions that are expected to be oversold - such as the 100m final, which could feature Jamaica's six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt - an independent and computerised draw will select the successful applications.

For athletics, which is expected to be the most popular sport at the Games, there are six price categories, but for most events there will be just two or three price bands to keep it simple.

Commonwealth Games rugby sevens Ibrox

Rugby sevens at Ibrox is expected to be among the most popular sports at Glasgow 2014

Organisers also claimed that people will receive the number of tickets they apply for or get none at all.

So, for example, if they apply for four tickets they will either be successful or not, and will not be offered a partial share of tickets.

"We have listened and learnt from previous Commonwealth Games as well as the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games," said Smith.

"We've also conducted our own research.

"We've thought long and hard about the pricing, the process by which you'll buy tickets, but also the way we communicate.

"This is a Games for everyone.

"And by that I mean success not just for the Organising Committee and our partners, but also for the people of Glasgow, Scotland and the Commonwealth."

Full details are due to be published in the ticketing guide to be published by Glasgow on July 23, a year before the Opening Ceremony.

To see the full competition schedule