WIMBLEDON TOPS VIAGOGO TICKET SALES TABLE

viagogo, a global marketplace that helps fans buy and sell tickets to their favourite sporting events, has revealed that The Championships, Wimbledon, smashed the competition to become 2023’s hottest ticket in sport.

The iconic Grand Slam tennis championship topped the list of most popular sporting tickets based on total ticket sales on viagogo’s global marketplace during 2023. 

Wimbledon proved to be the most popular event for UK and non-UK fans alike, with tennis fans from 56 different countries purchasing tickets to attend last summer’s championships.

Most In-Demand UK Sporting Experiences in 2023

1. The Championships, Wimbledon
2. Formula 1 British Grand Prix
3. Jacksonville Jaguars vs Buffalo Bills – NFL London Games 2023
4. ICC World Test Championship – Australia v India
5. Wales vs England – Guinness Six Nations 2023
6. KSI vs Tommy Fury
7. Baltimore Ravens vs Tennessee Titans – NFL London Games 2023
8. The Open Championship
9. England vs France – Guinness Six Nations 2023
10. Atlanta Falcons vs Jacksonville Jaguars – NFL London Games 2023

viagogo’s data, which spans more than 300 million tickets around the world annually, suggests that Red Bull’s dominance on the track has done little to dent the growing popularity of F1. The British Grand Prix ranked second overall for most popular events – up from fourth in 2022 – while F1 races accounted for five of the top 10 most-purchased overseas events by UK consumers.

Elsewhere, the NFL International Series touched down three times in the top 10 most in-demand events, with 2023 marking the first time UK-based enthusiasts were responsible for more ticket purchases (58%) than travelling fans.

2023 proved a year sports-mad Brits bought up tickets for live events far beyond the UK, with a huge 41% increase in ticket sales for events overseas. Major competitions such as the Rugby World Cup in France and Cricket World Cup in India, as well as NFL matches in Germany and F1 races – which feature five times in the top 10 list – proved most popular.

Top 10 Non-UK Events for UK Buyers in 2023

1. Rugby World Cup (France)
2. Cricket World Cup (India)
3. Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Frankfurt, Germany)
4. Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (UAE)
5. Formula 1 Monza Grand Prix (Italy)
6. Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix (USA)
7. UFC in Abu Dhabi (UAE)
8. 2023 Ryder Cup (Rome, Italy)
9. Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix (Monaco)
10. Formula 1 Zandvoort Grand Prix (Netherlands)

As well as assessing the top individual sporting events in the UK and internationally, viagogo – which services customers in 195 countries, 33 languages and 49 currencies – has also identified the most popular sports in terms of overall ticket sales on the marketplace in 2023. 

Spurred by a much-anticipated, and ultimately momentous, Ashes series, plus the ICC World Test Championship final and ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, cricket proved to be the single most popular sport by cumulative sales.

Top 10 UK Sports by Total Ticket Sales in 2023

1. Cricket 
2. Rugby 
3. NFL 
4. Boxing 
5. Formula 1
6. Darts
7. Football
8. Golf
9. Horse Racing 
10. MLB

Live sports fans were once again able to benefit from the flexibility of the secondary market to grab bargain tickets for some of the most highly-anticipated events in 2023, in some cases saving hundreds of pounds on the cost of face value tickets via viagogo.  

For example, fans flocked to the Atlanta Falcons v Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium for as little as £12, a number of lucky cricket fans were able to see Ashes Test Matches for £30, and F1 enthusiasts attended the British GP at Silverstone for under £40.

viagogo’s Global Managing Director, Cris Miller, said, “This year’s continued demand for tickets sold on viagogo underscores the value fans place on live events. Dominant players and personalities, plus traditional rivalries, are driving interest and demand for teams and leagues, with fans more willing than ever to travel abroad to show their support.

“2023 has proven once again that there is huge value for rights holders who effectively utilise the secondary market, and, most importantly, for fans who are able to see the sports they love on their terms.”

Commenting on the report, leading sports business expert, Prof. Rob Wilson, added, “viagogo’s data clearly highlights the level to which live sport events continue to flourish post-pandemic. The fact viagogo has witnessed a 41% year-on-year increase in international ticket sales for UK fans, and 50% globally, across its marketplace, points to an increasingly globalised live events industry.

“With fans now prepared to travel long distances to see their heroes and favourite teams perform, there is a big opportunity for sports organisations and rights holders to cater more specifically for international fanbases, who are typically amongst the most valuable in terms of at-event expenditure.”