Tickets for the Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs sold out just six hours after they went on sale on Wednesday, IOL Sport reported.
The Betway Premiership match will be played at FNB Stadium on Saturday, October 31. The quick sell-out shows how many supporters want to be at the game.
General admission tickets started at R140. Some tickets also came with transport, so fans could pay for part of their match-day travel before the game.
Level 1 and Level 5 tickets cost R140. The same tickets with return Gautrain bus transport cost R165. With return Rea Vaya transport, they cost R200.
Level 2 tickets cost R200. They rose to R225 with Gautrain bus transport and to R260 with return Rea Vaya transport.
Children’s tickets were priced at R50. A child’s ticket with Gautrain bus transport cost R75, while one with return Rea Vaya transport cost R110.
The ticket prices did not cover every cost of the day. IOL Sport said food, drinks, extra transport and team merchandise can all add to what a fan spends. For families and groups of friends, these costs can grow quickly.
At the top end, the Premium Viewing Lounge package was priced at R5,795 per person. It included a match ticket, entry to a fully staffed lounge, a three-course buffet and premium bar service.
Buyers of the lounge package received one parking ticket for every four hospitality tickets they bought.
The Goldrush Dome hospitality package cost R5,395 per person, excluding VAT. It did not include a view of the match from the lounge. Instead, it offered reserved seats in the stadium, access to the indoor venue, a buffet meal and premium bar service before and after the game.
For some fans, the cost goes far beyond the ticket. Kaizer Chiefs supporter Phumlani Mthethwa is travelling to the match from Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal.
“I expect this trip to cost me upwards of R5000 because I’m travelling to Gauteng on Friday and I will travel back on Sunday so between the ticket I already bought, the travelling costs and my accommodation, I expect the whole experience to be a little expensive,” he told IOL Sport.
The derby is the biggest rivalry in South African football. It brings together families, friends and supporters of the Buccaneers and Amakhosi from different generations.
IOL Sport said the fast sell-out also put the focus on how tickets are sold. The publication said clear communication, reliable online sales and protection against fake resale tickets matter for a match with such high demand.
Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs meet at FNB Stadium on Saturday, October 31.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.