Cost of attending away games

[Jimbo]

Came across an interesting enough study this morning (heard it in talksport)

 

The RAC has carried out a study on the cost of fuel and it's affects on away fans.

 

We have all felt the affects of the huge price hikes in fuel. The RAC has compared the prices of today's average fuel prices with what they were last year and it appears Leicester City fans are the ones who come off worse.

 

£20 of fuel last year would have seen, on average, a Leicester fan be able to travel to 11 of the 19 away grounds, however, £20 of fuel today would see you to only 3 of the 19 grounds.

 

How long before the cost of living crisis we see ourselves living in, seriously starts to take affect on the average fan and see them not be able to attend games, not just away but at home too?

 

Edited 12 August 2022 by Jimbo

[Lionator]

Probably October when electric/gas prices rise by 82%

[Fox92]

In recent seasons I've taken the train more to away games anyway, especially if it's London (or South East)/Manchester/Newcastle.

 

But on another note, I did start looking at hotels for Brighton away and they were ridiculous prices. That sort of area has always been high but the standard chains wanted over £150 a night which I couldn't believe.

[jim5000]

I generally only go to the away games as I live in the south east. It’s difficult because I can only get tickets via the members ballet and most south eastern teams are the London big clubs so tickets are in demand.

 

Cost a fortune for me to travel up to Leicester now, 1 and a quarter tanks of petrol for the round trip so around £60-70 now, plus parking at the holiday in car park which costs something like £20 for a few hours, even on a Thursday evening 

 

And the M1 always has roadworks so takes 3-4 hours, and sometimes they shut the M1 at night when I’m travelling back 🤣

Edited 12 August 2022 by jim5000

[goose2010]

2 minutes ago, jim5000 said:

I generally only go to the away games as I live in the south east. It’s difficult because I can only get tickets via the members ballet and most south eastern teams are the London big clubs so tickets are in demand.

 

Cost a fortune for me to travel up to Leicester now, 1 and a quarter tanks of petrol for the round trip so around £60-70 now, plus parking at the holiday in car park which costs something like £20 for a few hours, even on a Thursday evening 

 

And the M1 always has roadworks so takes 3-4 hours, and sometimes they shut the M1 at night when I’m travelling back 🤣

The holiday Inn is a rip off. Wouldn't it be better to find some road parking? There is plenty within walking distance of the ground. 

[slymunn]

My petrol for a home game is now close to my season tickets monthly cost. Its crazy to think like that but it was within a fiver for the Brentford game to get there.

[FoxesTez]

Not sure it's fair to say we come off worst, we just have the biggest change since last year. I guess there's maybe a couple of teams for which they couldn't even get to 3 grounds at all on £20?

 

There'll be no impact on the Man Utds, Liverpools etc. as for every fan priced out there's probably 10 waiting to take their place. Wouldn't be surprised to see our average attendances drop this season though. 

[Guest Lako42]

Well I'm going Coalville town on Sat rather than Arsenal away

[Fox92]

21 minutes ago, FoxesTez said:

Not sure it's fair to say we come off worst, we just have the biggest change since last year. I guess there's maybe a couple of teams for which they couldn't even get to 3 grounds at all on £20?

 

There'll be no impact on the Man Utds, Liverpools etc. as for every fan priced out there's probably 10 waiting to take their place. Wouldn't be surprised to see our average attendances drop this season though. 

Tbf you could say that for most, if not, all sides.

 

Villa, West Ham, Spurs all have big fanbases. Even us really we always take good numbers away but there's still always people who say they didn't get a ticket etc.

[Stadt]

We’re more centrally located so it’s easier for our fans to drive, surely? It’s travelling on trains where we’re shafted.

[Phil Bowman]

54 minutes ago, jim5000 said:

It’s difficult because I can only get tickets via the members ballet

While it’s nice that they’ve tried something different with having a dance-off for away tickets, I’m not sure how fair it is…

[kingcarr21]

It really doesn't have to be that expensive. All comes down to what's more important, watching the football or going on the piss.

 

Do your research on parking and it really doesn't have to break the bank to go to away games. If there's a group of you just swap driver for the next away game and split the fuel cost.

[KrefelderFox666]

2 minutes ago, Stadt said:

We’re more centrally located so it’s easier for our fans to drive, surely? It’s travelling on trains where we’re shafted.

I think the difference with us is that we have few local games and the average away trip is 2 hours +.

 

London teams have it easy as half the opponents are within an hour or so drive (not like away fans would drive if based around London).

 

However, surely Newcastle are some of the worst off. Trip to London must be 10 hours return trip plus the south coast will be 12-14 hours return. And there are lots of those trips for them. So no idea how we could be THE worst. I doubt Newcastle can get to 3 of the grounds for £20.

[fox_up_north]

For me, a home game is an away game. I may do 2-3 a season, as a treat and maybe a local one.  

 

I am still convinced there'll be a huge crash in football in the next few years. Can't continue to pay footballers to be millionaires for average performances and the knock on cost to fans. It'll be ok for the likes of Man United who can attract the prawn sandwich day trippers from afar but clubs like us, Everton, Wolves, Villa, etc won't.

 

Vincent Kompany did his MA in business of football and said the fans are part of the product. £40 to attend a game and petrol just won't work, especially with a long term recession looming (which may be on par with 2008)

[Stuntman_Mike]

32 minutes ago, Lako42 said:

Well I'm going Coalville town on Sat rather than Arsenal away

I was very tempted to do the same, but only really going Arsenal because it's the first away game.

 

I'd go as far as saying I only go games now because it's a way to meet up with my mates. If I had to fill a tank on my own and drive to games I'd give it up completely.

 

 

[CosbehFox]

I mentioned earlier this week - it's cheaper to book a flight and go an European weekend away. The accommodation is the real killer there because for an away day, the spend is the same. 

 

The logistics of going away are getting even harder to the point where even if money wasn't an object, it's a pure pain. Spurs away back to Leicester via a poxy bus ride between Luton-Hitchin or getting a taxi back from Rugby. 

 

My Dad for some reason wants to go Kidderminster tomorrow - £17 or £20 to get in!

[UniFox21]

People will simply start to cut it out. Football is playing a dangerous game currently. 

[Guest Lako42]

3 minutes ago, UniFox21 said:

People will simply start to cut it out. Football is playing a dangerous game currently. 

I kind of hope that they do. 

 

Football needs a massive reality check and I hope people do the right thing and actually cut it out before more essential things.

 

This also goes for people cancelling their Sky contracts. 

 

 

[Nugent]

16 minutes ago, Cardiff_Fox said:

I mentioned earlier this week - it's cheaper to book a flight and go an European weekend away. The accommodation is the real killer there because for an away day, the spend is the same. 

 

The logistics of going away are getting even harder to the point where even if money wasn't an object, it's a pure pain. Spurs away back to Leicester via a poxy bus ride between Luton-Hitchin or getting a taxi back from Rugby. 

 

My Dad for some reason wants to go Kidderminster tomorrow - £17 or £20 to get in!

Crazy isn't it? I'm visiting family in Northampton in September so thought I'd grab a ticket for Cobblers v Rochdale for a bit of live football - £24 in League 2!  No chance.

[goose2010]

9 minutes ago, Lako42 said:

I kind of hope that they do. 

 

Football needs a massive reality check and I hope people do the right thing and actually cut it out before more essential things.

 

This also goes for people cancelling their Sky contracts. 

 

 

More and more will be looking at these stream packages. Range from 50 to 150 a year rather than that a month! 

 

I've decided to do no away games this season. My budget just doesn't stretch to it now. It's too hard to justify. 

[jim5000]

1 hour ago, goose2010 said:

The holiday Inn is a rip off. Wouldn't it be better to find some road parking? There is plenty within walking distance of the ground. 

Yeah it would, it’s just that driving up from Kent by the time I get there usually (especially for evening matches), all the road parking is full and I’m not that familiar with the City centre roads to start driving about - I’d probably make a wrong turn and end up in Enderby or something!

 

Also, I like to have time to get to the soar point and have a pint 🤣

[Stuntman_Mike]

14 minutes ago, Cardiff_Fox said:

I mentioned earlier this week - it's cheaper to book a flight and go an European weekend away. The accommodation is the real killer there because for an away day, the spend is the same. 

 

The logistics of going away are getting even harder to the point where even if money wasn't an object, it's a pure pain. Spurs away back to Leicester via a poxy bus ride between Luton-Hitchin or getting a taxi back from Rugby. 

 

My Dad for some reason wants to go Kidderminster tomorrow - £17 or £20 to get in!

It's got to the point though where I'd sooner pay over the odds for a non league game because the overall experience itself is better, even if the standard isn't as good. 

 

 

 

 

 

[taupe]

I wonder when clubs will look to stream their own games. Cut out the middle man as it were. I've no idea how much investment would be required, and the contractual obligations etc, but I wouldn't be surprised if some clubs have looked at the numbers and legalities etc.

[goose2010]

1 minute ago, jim5000 said:

Yeah it would, it’s just that driving up from Kent by the time I get there usually (especially for evening matches), all the road parking is full and I’m not that familiar with the City centre roads to start driving about - I’d probably make a wrong turn and end up in Enderby or something!

 

Also, I like to have time to get to the soar point and have a pint 🤣

For evening games wouldn't John Lewis be a better car park? Sure it's only a couple of quid after a certain time? It's only about an extra 5 minute walk ?

[CosbehFox]

Just now, Stuntman_Mike said:

It's got to the point though where I'd sooner pay over the odds for a non league game because the overall experience itself is better, even if the standard isn't as good. 

Get that completely - living in South Birmingham, I can drive with 10 minutes, park up, watch a couple of hours of football and get change from twenty quid. Be sat back at home by 5.30. For the derisions of the quality, Alvechurch next to me have a team full of ex Villa and West From kids. The players for me are capable of Football League but they don't play with no mistakes mentality, so aren't as successful. 

 

No hassle, no b*llocks. I am the nearest I've been to pack it in and just helping out at a non-league club