I was passing Lumpini Park a few days ago and thought I would call in at the Muay Thai ticket office to enquire about prices etc! I would not have expected I needed an escort from a group of pushy officials that were hel_l bent on stopping me.

I simply gave up within site of the ticket office. As always with 'officials', everything I wanted to know was impossible unless I bought a ticket. Ticket starting price was 800 Baht. I didn't even bother trying to find the upper price.

I doubt that the average thai in the stalls has handed over upwards of 800 Baht. So, how much is it and how do I buy tickets? I have no intention of paying 800 Baht to sit in the 'sweat flick' zone, when I can mix it with the chaps at the back.

Any ideas?

If my hazy memory serves me well, about 10 months ago they wanted 250 baht from a thai or 1000 baht from foreigners.

Thanks kevin, but i am more curious to learn the real price. Not just what the money-grubbers out front think they can take people for.

they don't try and take anyone for more than what the stadium tells them to charge, if you are talking about the guides in the red, blue or yellow jackets. The cost for ringside is 2000 baht for 2nd class 15000 and for 3rd class 1000 baht, this is the foriegner price and set by the stadiums, the guides are giving the concession to bring the foreign tourists in and supposedly look after them when inside. They get given the price to charge by the stadiums and this is is also marked up outside on the ticket booths and the stadium in turn gives them a percent of this for everyone they bring in.

Thanks Ting, I didn't know that. It just seemed to me that they were attempting to block my way to the ticket office. What if I don't want to sit in the VIP are? Can I tell them to stick it and buy a regular ticket? Would it be possible to buy a rip-off ticket for myself and then stand with the Thais that I will be going with in the back with all the pushing and yelling, not to mention a little betting?

I hate being ripped off based on the shade of my skin or, for that matter, being treated better and shown to a special seat when i can stand as well as anyother.

unfortunately not as they have that covered, when you buy the ticket for 2nd or 3rd class it will be stamped in Thai that you bought it at the foreigner rate, so if you get a Thai to buy it for you they will know and you wont get in

Thanks again Ting, but it was not quite what I had in mind. If I have to pay, and pay extra for my skin colour, I would prefer to stand with my Thai friend in the stalls. The shouting and betting would be more fun than sitting out front like a cash cow. So basically, I am asking if I can pay more and get less.

why not just go to channel 7 on a sunday afternoon? its free.

get off at mor chit station and its no more than a 10 minute walk.

best to get there by 1 oclock at the latest as it fills up, sometimes its more entertaining to watch the bookies than the fighters.

yep ch 7 a good option starts at 1345 on sundays, though does get very crowded, another favorite venue of mine is Omnoi stadium just out side Bangkok in Samut Sakhon province, on a saturday at 1200 midday for the CH3 televised broadcasts, get some nice fights here and shouldn't be charged more than 200 baht to get in. It's a nice compact little stadium and get some good fights there.

Is there anywhere in, or near by Pattaya, where one can see Muay Thai without the "tourist price" at the local stadium in Pattaya?

Usually if there is a big fight coming up, I ll pay the 1000B for ring side, but I resent the costs even for the lower cost bleacher seats which are uncomfortable as hel_l.

Any other Muay Thai locations in Pattaya to catch a good fight on the economical level?