Acording to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading_and_Leeds_Festivals_line-ups), the prices of a Reading weekend ticket were as follows (Leeds site began in 1999):

1989 - £32.50
1990 - £35
1990 - £??
1992 - £??
1993 - £??
1994 - £55
1995 - £60
1996 - £60
1997 - £70
1998 - £75
1999 - £80
2000 - £80
2001 - £80
2002 - £90
2003 - £95
2004 - £105
2005 - £125
2006 - £135
2007 - £145
2008 - £155
2009 - £175

I haven't got any figures, but as far as I'm aware, this kind of upward trend can also be applied to the other biggies: Glastonbury, V, T, and Oxegen.

Now I know that the line-ups vary from year to year, but size-wise, judging by the official posters (http://leedsfestival.com/history/index.aspx?id=2694) things don't seem to have grown by an amount proportional to the large price rises. I could be wrong on this.

Are the price rises in the last decade anything to do with the increase in smaller festivals?

Defo seems like there's been a parallel with the crossover to the mainstream by the general festival scene (or vice versa).

Whaddyareckon?