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≡ 2025 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Every event wants to sell as many tickets as possible at as high a price as possible. The Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships are selling tickets on the third level – the highest-up level – of the National Stadium along the finishing straight at three different prices:
● ¥4,000 per ticket for morning sessions (~$27.41 U.S.)
● ¥7,000 per ticket for weekday evening sessions (~$47.97 U.S.)
● ¥8,000 per ticket for weekend-holiday evening sessions (~$54.83 U.S.)
These are not the lowest-priced seats; those are on the same level, but around the turns and on the backstraight. But they are in the fourth category (of five): “Category B.”
Now, a new concept has been unveiled, using those third-level seats in a new style:
“Located centrally in the third-tier main stand, this new seating option offers a panoramic view of the Japan National Stadium. Designed with both comfort and convenience in mind, each pair of seats includes a dedicated table and occupies the space of three standard seats, providing additional room for spectators to enjoy the championships in a more relaxed setting.”
But the luxury comes at a higher price; remember that the tabled pair actually takes up three standard seats:
● ¥14,000 per tabled pair for morning sessions (~$95.94 U.S.)
(vs. $54.82 for two seats, or $82.23 for three)
● ¥28,000 per tabled pair for weekday evening sessions (~$191.89 U.S.)
(vs. $95.94 for two seats, or $143.91 for three)
● ¥40,000 per tabled pair for weekend-holiday evening sessions (~$274.13 U.S.)
(vs. $109.66 for two seats, or $164.49 for three)
So, this is a premium of 17%, 33% or 67% on the revenue from the sale of three seats in the same location, lessened, of course, by the cost of installations and removals (or 250% of the price of two seats for a weekend or holiday evening session).
But this could be a pretty nice way to watch the Worlds. You can watch the races on the home straight, with your snacks and drinks on the table, maybe also with a tablet to watch replays or results.
There are not a lot of these seats; it’s shown as a very small subset; see the circled “21″ section on the map below:
It will be fascinating to see how well these seats do with ticket buyers, both in Japan and from elsewhere. The dream of every ticket manager everywhere is to maximize revenue in creative ways, whether with hospitality or some sort of special arrangement.
And it’s hardly new. Those with long memories of NBA basketball can remember San Francisco Warriors games – as they were known at the time – at the 1960s Cow Palace, with rows of spectators in tuxedos and dresses, seated on one side of the court with tables in front of them, watching the game after enjoying dinner before … in their seats!
But those seats were close to the court and have been followed by dozens of teams creating similar dining tables for fans in prime sections. But Tokyo 2025’s small experiment for luxury seating at the top of the stadium will be watched closely for success, or indifference.
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