Odermatt justifies exorbitant World Ski Championship ticket prices

The Alpine Ski World Championship, the next highlight for the best male and female racers, is scheduled for the upcoming winter.

For fans, however, the major event in Crans-Montana, taking place from February 1st to 14th, will be a costly affair. Sales are divided into four different phases, and prices vary by category and race.

Tickets for the men's downhill are already sold out and will only be available again from October 1st. However, they are expected to cost approximately 180 Euros (170 Swiss Francs) in the finish area, causing considerable annoyance. Nevertheless, Marco Odermatt considers this sum "legitimate".

Odermatt draws comparison with other sports events

He explains: "If you want to be in the top winter sports league or compare yourself to Formula 1, MotoGP, or tennis, then you can't sell the most important race of the next two years, which is even held in Switzerland, the number one ski nation, for 50 francs."

He also justifies the price by citing other sporting events. As examples, he mentions the Champions League round of 16 or a third-round match at Wimbledon. "There, you're immediately in the four-figure range," he says, but adds that the course is long and there are other positions from which to follow the race.