Dirty TackleReal Madrid to charge fans $85-382 to watch UCLA training session
Ahead of its four preseason friendlies in the United States this summer, Real Madrid will hold an "open" training session at the UCLA campus on Aug. 4. It's only "open," however, if you are willing to pay for the privilege of watching Xabi Alonso stretch.
Last year's UCLA training session was closed to the public, but Los Blancos has now decided to capitalize on Californians with an insatiable appetite for seeing millionaires run around cones, charging fans up to $382 for a VIP pass. Marca explains what that package includes:
In addition to giving you a seat in a covered area, the VIP pass includes the opportunity to meet Real Madrid players after training and be photographed with the Casillas, Ronaldo and co. The lucky VIP will also enjoy a continental breakfast at the training facilities chosen by Madrid.
Nearly 400 bones for a cold breakfast at a university campus? If it isn't prepared by Sergio Ramos and fed spoonful-by-spoonful by Mesut Ozil while Jose Mourinho gives out massages, that's not particularly good value.
The cheapest tickets for the event will be $85, which is around $85 more than any other European club has ever had the audacity to charge their fans to watch a training session.
UPDATE: As DT commenter K.Hepburn points out, at least some (if not all) of the money from ticket sales is going towards Children United USA and the LA Galaxy Foundation. Neither of which benefit people who shell out large sums of money for tickets to a training session.
