Tickets for the 2016 European Championships in France will cost up to $1,000, but organizers said Tuesday that a quarter of a million seats will be sold as cut prices. The top price of 895 euros ($1,005) will be charged for top category tickets for the July 10 final at the Stade de France in Paris. Jacques Lambert, chairman of the Euro 2016 organizing committee said 1 million tickets will be sold from June 10 until July 10 this year. Another 800,000 will be sold after the draw for the finals in December. Lambert said there would be "exceptional" prices available. "We have set a start price of 25 euros for 43 of the 51 games at the finals," Lambert said. All group matches, with the exception of the opening game, and last-16 games will have 25 euro tickets. "This is an exceptional price for a tournament as prestigious as the European Championships," Lambert insisted. He said that only one website will be used for ticket sales from June 10 and that seats will be allocated in a computerized lottery. Fans can already register for an account with UEFA. By setting low prices for some tickets and using the computerized lottery, the French organizers are trying to avoid criticism of the ticket system used for last year's World Cup in Brazil. The cheapest seats for the quarter finals are 45 euros, 65 euros for the semi-finals, 75 euros for the June 10 opening match and 85 euros for the final. But the cheapest category-four tickets represent only 10 percent of the total 2.4 million that will be sold and given to sponsors. Prices for category-three tickets range from 55 euros to 295 euros, category-two tickets range from 105 euros to 595 euros and category-one tickets range from 145 euros to 895 euros. UEFA said they will give away 20,000 seats to poor children in France. Ten venues across France will host the 51 matches in a tournament featuring 24 teams for the first time. Kick offs will be at 3:00 pm (1300 GMT), 6:00 pm (1600 GMT) and 9:00pm (1900 GMT).
