Michael Vaughan Hits Out at 43% Ashes Ticket Price Increase
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has openly challenged a 43% increase in ticket costs for the 2027 men’s Ashes Test at Edgbaston, calling it’really terrible’.
The reaction occurred on September 3, 2026, one day after the 2027 Ashes ticket poll began on September 2, 2026, bringing the pricing structure to public attention.
The Birmingham pitch will host the third Test of England’s best-of-five series against Australia next summer, with tickets in the Hollies Stand, which seats nearly 6,000 people, costing £165, up from £115 in 2023. Members can get tickets for £92 elsewhere in the stadium, but the cheapest adult tickets for the first three days are £115, with a £2.50 booking charge applied to each.
Tickets for the Hollies Stand at Edgbaston have increased by 43% in four years, from £115 for the 2023 Ashes series to £165 for the 2027 game. The stand, which seats over 6,000 people, is one of the most popular areas of the Birmingham stadium. Edgbaston members can purchase seats for £92, while adult tickets for the first three days of the Test begin at £115. Each ticket purchased incurs a £2.50 booking fee.
Edgbaston is currently operating at reduced capacity as an on-site hotel is under built, limiting the total number of seats available for the 2027 Test.
How do Edgbaston’s 2027 Ashes pricing compare to other venues?
The Hollies Stand price of £165 is lower than the top-tier prices at Lord’s and the Oval for the same series. Lord’s best-available tickets are advertised at £190, while the Oval’s premium seats are priced at £185, making Edgbaston the more inexpensive option among the three facilities, despite the significant percentage increase since 2023.
The difference to ordinary international cricket at Edgbaston is striking. Adult tickets for England’s Test against Pakistan at the same venue in September 2026 range from £57.50 to £87.50 and have not sold out, demonstrating how much Ashes demand drives up prices compared to other home events.
The 2023 Ashes series saw a total attendance of over 545,000 across all five matches. Australia won the first two Tests, at Edgbaston and Lord’s, before England rallied to tie the series, which ended 2-2.
What is the whole 2027 Ashes schedule for England?
Edgbaston will host the third Test of a five-match series. England begin their campaign at Trent Bridge on June 18, with the second Test at Lord’s beginning on June 30. The Edgbaston fixture begins on July 8, followed by the fourth Test at the Utilita Bowl on July 21, and the fifth at the Oval on July 29.
The Utilita Bowl becomes the eighth venue in the United Kingdom to host a men’s Ashes Test, adding a new dimension to the customary cycle of venues. England enters the series hoping to recapture the urn after losing 4-1 to Australia in the 2025-26 series last winter.
