Price of Football 2017: Young adult fans are 'put off' by cost of football

[davieG]

The BBC Price of Football study has found that the majority of ticket prices have been frozen or have fallen for a third year - yet a poll of young adult football fans suggests the cost is still putting them off.

 

More here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41901398

 

......and us

 

BBC Price of Football survey: How Leicester City compare to rest of the Premier League

 

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bbc-price-football-survey-how-783257

[Guest MattP]

Grounds are almost all at maximum capacity most weeks in the top flight.

 

Getting a ticket is a problem whatever the cost.

[Guest Electric Yetis]

26 minutes ago, davieG said:

BBC Price of Football survey: How Leicester City compare to rest of the Premier League

 

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bbc-price-football-survey-how-783257

City’s £4 pie is 35 pence more expensive than the Premier League average, while cups of tea are £2.40 - 18 pence above the league average of £2.12 

 

[m4DD0gg]

Which ever way you look at it prices for football games in this country are an absolute disgrace.

[Wes]

15 minutes ago, pds said:

City’s £4 pie is 35 pence more expensive than the Premier League average, while cups of tea are £2.40 - 18 pence above the league average of £2.12 

 

Thank god I never eat pie or drink tea at the ground!

[fox in the sox]

Heard a chap this morning saying it is too expensive with the ticket price AND FOOD/DRINK/PROGRAMME. If you are struggling financially you don't need any of those. I have never purchased food or drink at a football ground - you are only there for about 2 hours so have some lunch before the game and a meal afterwards. A programme is nice but I'm sure we could all cope without one.

[Voll Blau]

The simple fact is clubs aren't interested in keeping that demographic on board because they know that families make them more money, and that young adults will return once they get a bit older and have kids of their own anyway.

[rn9013]

I know this will be unpopular, but in my opinion ticket prices are not that bad. I understand that taking a family is now incredibly expensive, and people in this situation have my sympathy. However, I have mates and people I work with who wouldn't think twice about purchasing a gig ticket or a theatre ticket for £50+, well my £35-40 match ticket is my monthly 'theatre' ticket. It's what I enjoy and although not cheap I feel I get value for that money because I enjoy it. Baring in mind child tickets are cheaper than this, and of course the club could make prices cheaper still, but with demand so high across much of the premier league lowering prices may actually result in more problems around availability than it actually solves. 

 

Like I say, I'm not dismissing genuine concerns, particularly for families, but relatively speaking overall I feel ticket prices are fair value. 

 

Where I do feel football is too expensive actually lies with merchandise. For example, £35-40 for a child's replica shirt that costs pennies to make is a complete rip off given the profits being made in football. 

[Bunyip]

1 hour ago, pds said:

City’s £4 pie is 35 pence more expensive than the Premier League average, while cups of tea are £2.40 - 18 pence above the league average of £2.12 

 

Who drinks cups of tea at a football match anyway?

[Guest Electric Yetis]

1 minute ago, Bunyip said:

Who drinks cups of tea at a football match anyway?

Not bothered about that. More worried about the terrible maths.

[Voll Blau]

1 hour ago, rn9013 said:

I know this will be unpopular, but in my opinion ticket prices are not that bad. I understand that taking a family is now incredibly expensive, and people in this situation have my sympathy. However, I have mates and people I work with who wouldn't think twice about purchasing a gig ticket or a theatre ticket for £50+, well my £35-40 match ticket is my monthly 'theatre' ticket. It's what I enjoy and although not cheap I feel I get value for that money because I enjoy it. Baring in mind child tickets are cheaper than this, and of course the club could make prices cheaper still, but with demand so high across much of the premier league lowering prices may actually result in more problems around availability than it actually solves. 

 

Like I say, I'm not dismissing genuine concerns, particularly for families, but relatively speaking overall I feel ticket prices are fair value. 

 

Where I do feel football is too expensive actually lies with merchandise. For example, £35-40 for a child's replica shirt that costs pennies to make is a complete rip off given the profits being made in football. 

All I can say is you must be in a better financial position than most. Every year I find it harder to justify the cost of my season ticket, and that's with just me to pay for every matchday.

 

Clubs make more than enough cash now to give hard-pressed match-going fans a bit of a break. Lower prices wouldn't create more problems at all, it was just give those less ell-off a better chance of getting tickets.

[Sambiasso]

I've said before its cheaper to take my lad to watch Leicester than it is to take him cinema, bowling etc.


 

[BrummieFOX]

30 minutes ago, rn9013 said:

I know this will be unpopular, but in my opinion ticket prices are not that bad. I understand that taking a family is now incredibly expensive, and people in this situation have my sympathy. However, I have mates and people I work with who wouldn't think twice about purchasing a gig ticket or a theatre ticket for £50+, well my £35-40 match ticket is my monthly 'theatre' ticket. It's what I enjoy and although not cheap I feel I get value for that money because I enjoy it. Baring in mind child tickets are cheaper than this, and of course the club could make prices cheaper still, but with demand so high across much of the premier league lowering prices may actually result in more problems around availability than it actually solves. 

 

Like I say, I'm not dismissing genuine concerns, particularly for families, but relatively speaking overall I feel ticket prices are fair value. 

 

Where I do feel football is too expensive actually lies with merchandise. For example, £35-40 for a child's replica shirt that costs pennies to make is a complete rip off given the profits being made in football. 

Every week?

[rn9013]

9 minutes ago, Voll Blau said:

All I can say is you must be in a better financial position than most. Every year I find it harder to justify the cost of my season ticket, and that's with just me to pay for every matchday.

 

Clubs make more than enough cash now to give hard-pressed match-going fans a bit of a break. Lower prices wouldn't create more problems at all, it was just give those less ell-off a better chance of getting tickets.

Not at all, I accept that it is expensive, and as I say anyone trying to take a family has my sympathy. However season ticket prices start at £365, which is £19 a game. In my opinion that's fairly good value for 90 mins of live football in one of the most/if not the most competitive league in the world. 

 

Genuine question: If not £20ish, how much do you think is a fair price per match? 

[rn9013]

1 minute ago, BrummieFOX said:

Every week?

No not every week, but I don't spend £35-40 per week on a ticket either. As a member I go to one match per month. As a ST holder of course I would go to two home games a month (on average) but then the ticket price is half the cost of my individual match ticket. 

 

If you go to home games and away games then that's your prerogative. I simply couldn't afford to follow the club home and away every week without making serious sacrifices, so I choose not to. But the club can't be blamed for this. I also can't afford to go to the cinema every week without making sacrifices, but I don't blame the cinema either. 

[Voll Blau]

1 hour ago, rn9013 said:

Not at all, I accept that it is expensive, and as I say anyone trying to take a family has my sympathy. However season ticket prices start at £365, which is £19 a game. In my opinion that's fairly good value for 90 mins of live football in one of the most/if not the most competitive league in the world. 

 

Genuine question: If not £20ish, how much do you think is a fair price per match? 

Between £10 and £15.

[rn9013]

Just now, Voll Blau said:

Between £10 and £15.

Fair enough. Everyone will have their own opinions on value, and hey I wouldn't complain if the club decided to charge that!

 

 

[BrummieFOX]

3 minutes ago, rn9013 said:

No not every week, but I don't spend £35-40 per week on a ticket either. As a member I go to one match per month. As a ST holder of course I would go to two home games a month (on average) but then the ticket price is half the cost of my individual match ticket. 

 

If you go to home games and away games then that's your prerogative. I simply couldn't afford to follow the club home and away every week without making serious sacrifices, so I choose not to. But the club can't be blamed for this. I also can't afford to go to the cinema every week without making sacrifices, but I don't blame the cinema either. 

The diference for Premier League clubs being that they simply don't require the match ticket income to survive or even thrive. The % of ticket sales in comparison to their overall income means that putting tickets at £40 is simply greed and costing certain demographics out of the game.

[rn9013]

1 minute ago, BrummieFOX said:

The diference for Premier League clubs being that they simply don't require the match ticket income to survive or even thrive. The % of ticket sales in comparison to their overall income means that putting tickets at £40 is simply greed and costing certain demographics out of the game.

True. But it is worth noting that the club (along with most if not all Premier League clubs I believe) hasn't increased prices since the big TV revenues started rolling in. If they ever did increase prices I would be the first to protest! Yes they could afford to reduce the ticket prices, but if you were to put yourself in the owners shoes, you're selling out game after game, would you really cut ticket prices?

[Fox92]

53 minutes ago, rn9013 said:

I know this will be unpopular, but in my opinion ticket prices are not that bad. I understand that taking a family is now incredibly expensive, and people in this situation have my sympathy. However, I have mates and people I work with who wouldn't think twice about purchasing a gig ticket or a theatre ticket for £50+, well my £35-40 match ticket is my monthly 'theatre' ticket. It's what I enjoy and although not cheap I feel I get value for that money because I enjoy it. Baring in mind child tickets are cheaper than this, and of course the club could make prices cheaper still, but with demand so high across much of the premier league lowering prices may actually result in more problems around availability than it actually solves. 

 

Like I say, I'm not dismissing genuine concerns, particularly for families, but relatively speaking overall I feel ticket prices are fair value. 

 

Where I do feel football is too expensive actually lies with merchandise. For example, £35-40 for a child's replica shirt that costs pennies to make is a complete rip off given the profits being made in football. 

It's a rip off.

 

Fortunately I've been a STH for so long I don't ever need to buy single home tickets but I look at prices and it's ridiculous. I think Palace home tickets are £40 for a seat in SK2 which is where I sit. Wtf. 

 

Clubs at this level make so much money, I imagine ticket sales contribute very little to their profit. It'll not change because we get strong attendances but anything more than £30 isn't right.

 

I'm glad I only have to pay £30 for away tickets but they should be brought down to £20 now.

[rn9013]

6 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

It's a rip off.

 

Fortunately I've been a STH for so long I don't ever need to buy single home tickets but I look at prices and it's ridiculous. I think Palace home tickets are £40 for a seat in SK2 which is where I sit. Wtf. 

 

Clubs at this level make so much money, I imagine ticket sales contribute very little to their profit. It'll not change because we get strong attendances but anything more than £30 isn't right.

 

I'm glad I only have to pay £30 for away tickets but they should be brought down to £20 now.

I do agree that some of the prices for lower grade games (Burnley et al) could benefit from a review. Especially as these games tend to reach general sale which is a key way of attracting potentially new supporters. 

[Kitchandro]

56 minutes ago, rn9013 said:

I know this will be unpopular, but in my opinion ticket prices are not that bad. I understand that taking a family is now incredibly expensive, and people in this situation have my sympathy. However, I have mates and people I work with who wouldn't think twice about purchasing a gig ticket or a theatre ticket for £50+, well my £35-40 match ticket is my monthly 'theatre' ticket. It's what I enjoy and although not cheap I feel I get value for that money because I enjoy it. Baring in mind child tickets are cheaper than this, and of course the club could make prices cheaper still, but with demand so high across much of the premier league lowering prices may actually result in more problems around availability than it actually solves. 

 

Like I say, I'm not dismissing genuine concerns, particularly for families, but relatively speaking overall I feel ticket prices are fair value. 

 

Where I do feel football is too expensive actually lies with merchandise. For example, £35-40 for a child's replica shirt that costs pennies to make is a complete rip off given the profits being made in football. 

Yeh you're right it is going to be unpopular.

 

This isn't the theatre - what working class people go to the theatre every week/month? Or even a gig. I mean some people might go to gigs regularly but not the same band as they won't play every week in front of 32,000 for 9 months of the year. Not comparable.

 

Even Alton Towers - considered a once a year thing by most people, is cheaper than going to an away game. People can go to the cinema for less than a tenner.

 

I really don't think that £35 per ticket for working class people is acceptable. I know season tickets are cheaper but these sell out every year before some people can get them, they are capped at 22,000 or something like that.

 

But the real reason ticket prices are a joke is because football clubs, at our level anyway, do not need the money they make from ticket sales. They could give them away fro free and it would barely eat into their pockets at all.

 

It's a rip off, end of story. The only reason people justify it is because this country is absolutely addicted to football, it is one of the major parts of our culture and we can't just forget about it like other pastimes.

[AyewJoking]

Wish all tickets were £5- £20 price range so anyone that wanted to go could afford it and sky would have full capacity stadiums and show EVERY match on tv.

[rn9013]

22 minutes ago, Kitchandro said:

Yeh you're right it is going to be unpopular.

 

This isn't the theatre - what working class people go to the theatre every week/month? Or even a gig. I mean some people might go to gigs regularly but not the same band as they won't play every week in front of 32,000 for 9 months of the year. Not comparable.

 

Even Alton Towers - considered a once a year thing by most people, is cheaper than going to an away game. People can go to the cinema for less than a tenner.

 

I really don't think that £35 per ticket for working class people is acceptable. I know season tickets are cheaper but these sell out every year before some people can get them, they are capped at 22,000 or something like that.

 

But the real reason ticket prices are a joke is because football clubs, at our level anyway, do not need the money they make from ticket sales. They could give them away fro free and it would barely eat into their pockets at all.

 

It's a rip off, end of story. The only reason people justify it is because this country is absolutely addicted to football, it is one of the major parts of our culture and we can't just forget about it like other pastimes.

Ah yes. I can see now how your opinion must mean it’s a rip off. End of. 

 

I think it’s a tad patronising to working class people to insinuate they don’t go to gigs etc very often, I know plenty who get up to much more than just football and a few cans of beer on a weekend. 

 

In an an ideal world I would love to see ticket prices at 0. But we operate in a culture where our football clubs are operated as businesses by business people. The only way you are going to get significantly reduced ticket prices is by taking back ownership to the fans. Fan owned clubs seems a great idea, until it all goes wrong and we get relegated. 

 

[SecretPro]

How anybody can argue that ticket prices are fair is beyond me. Football used to be a working class sport.

 

Ticket prices are an absolute facking rip-off whichever way you look at it.