Tickets for this May’s Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv are not yet on sale, but Israelis are already expressing fury over the price of admission.
Today’s Yediot Achronot reports that ticket prices for the Eurovision finale will start at a whopping 1,150 NIS, about $318.
And prices only go up from there. The ultimate VIP package? Well, for 2,000 NIS (approx. $553) per ticket, you can rub elbows with Israeli representative Kobi Marimi and other celebs in the Green Room.
On a budget? Sorry, you’ll have to settle for tickets to the rehearsals. Tickets to the semi-final rehearsals start at 350 NIS ($97), while tickets to the rehearsal for the grand finale start at 500 NIS ($138).
At last year’s Eurovision in Lisbon, however, tickets started at just 40 bucks. And Israelis are not pleased. Comments on the “Kan Eurovision” Facebook group were scathing, to say the least:
“You should be ashamed of yourselves for these ridiculous prices! You are bringing a bad name on our country!”
“The prices are an embarrassment! Is there a chance the Eurovision committee will intervene on behalf of the audience?”
“My personal opinion? We should boycott the Eurovision and they’ll have an empty hall!”
Eurovision 2019 Ticket Prices
Here is the complete price list for tickets to Eurovision 2019 in Tel Aviv (with the approximate equivalent in US dollars):
Tickets to the Eurovision Semi-Final REHEARSALS, May 14 & 16 (in which Israel does not participate):
General Admission: 350 NIS / $97
2nd level seating: 750 NIS / $207
“Golden Ring” Standing Section: 900 NIS / $249
“Prime Seats” Closer Than Golden Ring: 1,000 NIS / $276
Tickets to the Eurovision Semi-Final, May 14 & 16 (in which Israel does not participate):
General Admission: 750 NIS / $207
2nd level seating: 1,000 NIS / $276
“Golden Ring” Standing Section: 1,150 NIS / $318
“Prime Seats” Closer Than Golden Ring: 1,250 NIS / $345
Tickets to the Eurovision Final REHEARSALS, May 18:
General Admission: 500 NIS / $138
2nd level seating: 1,000 NIS / $276
“Golden Ring” Standing Section: 1,150 NIS / $318
“Prime Seats” Closer Than Golden Ring: 1,250 NIS / $345
Tickets to the Eurovision Finale, May 18:
General Admission: 1,150 NIS / $318
2nd level seating: 1,350 NIS / $373
“Golden Ring” Standing Section: 1,500 NIS / $415
“Prime Seats” Closer Than Golden Ring: 1,700 NIS / $470
VIP Green Room: 2,000 NIS / $553
Would you pay $318 per ticket to attend the Eurovision final? Is the high cost of tickets justified for such a high-profile event? Or is Israel just being greedy? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Rich
February 19, 2019 at 5:37 pmThe prices are pretty exorbitant, and the reaction in the Eurovision groups I’m in is not pleased. Last year, I went to Lisbon and we paid about 450 euros (roughly $600 then) for a “fan club package” of SIX concerts (jury & broadcast versions of semifinals 1 & 2 and the finale) (we only attended three). Now that might have been cheaper than getting them individually on the open market (i.e., the equivalent of those prices that you mention above), and I don’t know what the fan club package is going for this year yet.
That said, there are supposed to be 40+ viewing areas in Tel Aviv this year (one for each country), plus the big Eurovillage in Charles Clore Park (the Eurovillage is a fixture of Eurovision — a big outdoor plaza with live performances, a big screen, food trucks, merchandise, etc.). So that should accommodate a lot of people (free, I imagine), and probably more than usual, given the ticket prices and smallish venue.