August 22 – In a repeat of the 2019 Copa America, Conmebol has set high ticket prices for November’s Copa Libertadores final in Santiago, Chile, pricing the majority of South American fans out of the showpiece event.
In Brazil the South American governing body was heavily criticised for setting ticket prices for the Copa America between $28 and $146 in a country where the minimum salary doesn’t top $300, but that criticism hasn’t stopped Conmebol from applying the same pricing policy for the final of the Copa Libertadores, its flagship club competition.
Tickets will go on sale at the end of the month and cost between $40 in category 3 and $125 in category 1. It means that South American fans will face an uphill struggle to attend the Libertadores final which is returning to a one-off match format this season. Last year Buenos Aires had to withdraw from staging the final after the second leg between River Plate and Boca Juniors was marred by violence.
Conmebol moved the final to Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium. In a bid to raise the commercial and sporting profile of the Libertadores final the ruling body opted for a 90-minute showpiece event, mainly attended by Spanish-based fans. South America lacks a culture of fans travel to away matches due to costs and the long distances.
Last year’s Argentinean finalists and Flamengo and Palmeiras from Brazil are still in contention to reach Santiago as the competition nears the semi-final stage. A Brazil-Argentina match-up would reduce the fear that the final in Chile’s 48,500 capacity national stadium would be played in front of empty stands.
Conmebol’s ticket prices pale in comparison with what UEFA’s charges for its Champions League final. In June Liverpool and Tottenham fans had to spend between €70-€600 on a ticket for the premier European club final in the Spanish capital. Nonetheless, at the Copa America Conmebol’s pricing policy resulted in empty stadiums with the governing body refusing to tweak prices during the competition.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1714432854labto1714432854ofdlr1714432854owedi1714432854sni@o1714432854fni1714432854