The cost of watching elite sport in the UK is under growing scrutiny after steep price rises were announced for several of the country's most prestigious events in 2027. In a BBC Sport website poll, 95% of respondents said tickets for the 2027 Ashes were too expensive.

A day at the Ashes at Edgbaston will cost non-members at least £115, up from a minimum of £65 when the ground last hosted a Test in 2023. At Wimbledon, a standard seat for the singles finals starts at £255, with the most expensive reaching £400, £50 more than in 2026 and more than double the 2017 price. General admission to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on raceday now starts at £289, compared with £189 in 2021.

"It's just ludicrous," said England cricket fan Lee Hanlon, who has decided against attending next summer's Ashes. "It seems like a lot of the normal cricket fans have been priced out."

Organisers point to rising costs. Edgbaston said its entry-level prices roughly match inflation, while Mark Darbon, chief executive of the R&A, said staging The Open now costs 25% more than it did five or six years ago. Ticketing, he added, accounts for less than 20% of the championship's revenue.

The squeeze extends to armchair fans. A football supporter wanting to watch every Premier League, Champions League and Scottish Premiership match must subscribe to Sky Sports, TNT Sports, Amazon Prime and Premier Sports, on top of an annual TV licence.