Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
The Australian Grand Prix is defending hikes in ticket prices after revealing eye-watering admission and membership fees for next year’s event.
Formula 1 on Wednesday unveiled that Melbourne’s Albert Park Circuit would be one of the few courses to feature a sprint race in 2027, although the grand prix lost its status as the season opener.
Regardless, ticket prices for the event have climbed yet again, mostly because of the introduction of three new membership tiers, where the lowest tier named Park Pass costs $275.
The Park Pass allows members to enter the precinct early, get discounts on merchandise and have priority renewal access each year.
But the membership comes on top of normal ticket prices, which have also spiked.
A four-day general admission pass will cost spectators $425, a $40 increase on this year’s price, while those who want to attend the main race on Sunday must fork out $220, a $10 rise.
The cheapest four-day seat in the Brabham stand has ballooned by $1140 because of the steep $1,275 ‘Premium’ tiered membership needed to access the grandstand.
It follows the cost of a four-day general admission pass being just $189 in 2022.
But the Australian GP’s chief executive Travis Auld said organisers had tried to “manage ticket pricing like we have every year to make sure the event remains accessible”.
“But also then to balance that with the interest in the event and the increasing costs of putting on major events,” he said.
“But also our desire to keep investing in the event when we want to grow our music offering, our food offering, our celebration of Melbourne’s culture.
“All those things come at a cost. And so we need to balance all that.”
The prices come after the Australian GP drew a record four-day total attendance of 483,934 people this year, with about 138,000 people packing the Albert Park circuit on Sunday, March 8.
Next year’s edition will take place from April 1 to April 4, and hometown favourite Oscar Piastri will look to win his first Australian GP after he was forced to withdraw in 2026.
