Your say: Is the money in Australian sport simply killing the vibe?

Australia is a country of pride. One thing we are hugely proud of is our sport. We are proud of our sporting teams, our sporting success and our sportsmen and women. But, I received an email last week from one of my favourite sports teams, highlighting that the 2014 test tickets will be going on sale shortly. I scrolled down the email to read that the lowest ticket price was an astounding $130. I mean, when did it get so expensive to barrack for your favourite team with your mates and a great atmosphere?

Is the money in Australian sport simply killing the vibe?

Professional Australian sportsmen and women are paid huge amounts annually to play their best and provide entertainment for the spectators, but I don’t know if I can justify the expense when just a few years ago it would be $15 a head to see the national team play fantastic footy and nothing was feeding ridiculous egos.

Cricket and Rugby Union both went professional in the early to mid-nineties and take it from me, I loved watching both games then just as much (if not more) than I do now.

When someone is paid so much money to perform well, and the spectators pay so much to see them perform well, if they don’t, then the whole country slams them for not being good enough. This puts our sportsmen and women under huge pressure and creates huge dissatisfaction in the spectators.

Are we doing the wrong thing by paying our sportsmen and women so much money? Was it better for them and us when the financial pressure wasn’t there and a bad game didn’t mean the end of the world? Have you say!