The InQuire Live Guide to Affordable Sports Events

Do you want to experience top-level sport without obliterating your student budget? InQuire Live has compiled a list of top sports events near Canterbury for a student-friendly price!

Wimbledon 2015 (29 June-12 July 2015)

Yes, the action in SW19 does not start for about ten months but to get tickets you have to plan ahead. The public ballot has already opened and will close on 15 December 2023 (Instructions on how to enter can be found here). The cheapest tickets on offer are for admission into the grounds which allow you to watch matches on courts 3-19, or if you want to experience the main courts, tickets are available for under £50 during the first week.

Rugby World Cup 2015 (18 September-31 October 2015)

Another one to plan well in advance; the ballot for the Rugby World Cup runs from 12-29 September 2014. Unfortunately, due to a lack of large stadiums, ticket prices are extremely high for matches involving the top teams. However, there are a few affordable fixtures which could provide some good rugby. Most notably France vs Romania and South Africa vs USA, both of which are at the Olympic Stadium, which have tickets starting at £20. The Bronze final is also acceptably priced with tickets starting at £50. (For more information click here).

Premier League 2014/5

With Canterbury being just a 50 minute train journey from London and with some of the best teams in the league based there, it’s not too expensive or too difficult to get to matches; the only problem is buying the tickets. Most of the London clubs require you to become a member before you can purchase tickets. However, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United do offer tickets on general sale without a joining fee and at a fairly decent price (seats can be bought for under £50). Always check a few days before fixtures as most clubs put unsold tickets on sale to the public at the last minute.

Events at Wembley Stadium

London is also the home of Wembley Stadium which will play host to some crucial Euro 2016 qualifiers, rugby fixtures and NFL games over the next six months. Ticket prices are usually very affordable, particularly for England football fixtures (starting at £35) as students can get a £10 discount. (For more information on what’s on at Wembley, click here)

Cricket at the St. Lawrence Ground, Canterbury

“Summer is over so surely the cricket season is over?” I hear you say. Think again. On 19 September (4pm), a 20/20 match of biblical proportions will be taking place at the Kent County Cricket Ground as the Vatican XI will play the Archbishop of Canterbury’s XI. Not only will this fixture allow you to experience one of the finest grounds on the county circuit but it will also see an historic moment as this is the first time the Vatican team has toured England. Entry is free with a collection for the Global Freedom Network. (More information can be found here).