They paid £62 over there, thank them

[Pugwash]

Not directly Saints , but deserves a bigger audience than general sports:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21006202

Fair play to the guy.

[scotty]

Makes for a pricey day out, doesnt it. Say two of you plus transport and lunch, no change from a couple of hundred quid.

[brmbrm]

Not directly Saints , but deserves a bigger audience than general sports:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21006202

Fair play to the guy.

 

Good for him

[Tokyo-Saint]

Didn't they charge us £52 to get in their council house?

[jawillwill]

Do the players really need to be told by the lino to thank the fans? Shouldn't it just be a fairly standard thing for players to do after an away match?

[sandwichsaint]

Makes for a pricey day out, doesnt it. Say two of you plus transport and lunch, no change from a couple of hundred quid.

 

Silly money. I'm on a 3 man boycott of the Chelsea game. Midweek, London, a game I would usually attend 100%. I could afford it but I'm just not prepared to pay it, I would love to see us take zero fans. Then let Sky and the FA and the home team deal with that one, not going to happen though is it?

[Sour Mash]

Not directly Saints , but deserves a bigger audience than general sports:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21006202

Fair play to the guy.

Thought he was being a bit busy and jumping on the bandwagon. Couldn't see anything to suggest they weren't going to go over and applaud their fans.

[Charlie Wayman]

Do the players really need to be told by the lino to thank the fans? Shouldn't it just be a fairly standard thing for players to do after an away match?

 

Maybe not but they do need to be reminded of the financial pain fans are suffering to support them through thick and thin especially when they are on a sulk day and not bothered whether they perform or not

[Turkish]

Silly money. I'm on a 3 man boycott of the Chelsea game. Midweek, London, a game I would usually attend 100%. I could afford it but I'm just not prepared to pay it, I would love to see us take zero fans. Then let Sky and the FA and the home team deal with that one, not going to happen though is it?

 

Do you think they'd give a toss? All that would happen is other clubs would mock our sh*t support. It needs every club to do it, but with so many football tourists and day trippers that'll go to these clubs i cant see it changing anytime soon. Football is being less and less about the fans every season. It's now totally for day trippers and TV.

[Cabrone]

Totally pointless gesture.

 

It's pretty simple really, clubs will charge what fans are willing to pay.

 

At the moment Arsenal appear to be able to get a full house for £62 so they will charge it.

 

If fans don't like it they need to grow a pair and stop paying.

 

Complaining whilst still paying up will have no effect.

[stevegrant]

Complaining whilst still paying up will have no effect.

This.

 

I constantly see references to "against modern football" on Facebook, Twitter, etc, and yet I know that every single one of those people still parts with their cash every week.

 

The only way prices will come down is if everyone decides enough is enough and withholds their cash.

[View From The Top]

This.

 

I constantly see references to "against modern football" on Facebook, Twitter, etc, and yet I know that every single one of those people still parts with their cash every week.

 

The only way prices will come down is if everyone decides enough is enough and withholds their cash.

 

I made the decision to only attend games that are priced fairly (City excluded as that was a promise made to my lad) and if that means missing the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Utd etc so be it.

 

Things will only change if we the fans are prepared to sacrifice going now for a fairer tomorrow.

 

We are lucky that we are not a big draw so our away prices, in the main, have been reasonable.

[stevegrant]

I made the decision to only attend games that are priced fairly (City excluded as that was a promise made to my lad) and if that means missing the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Utd etc so be it.

I'm in a similar boat (albeit without a child to pay for as well!), only did City because it guaranteed me an Arsenal ticket, and the cheap ticket at the latter cancelled out the rip-off at the former. Didn't do Everton or Liverpool, won't be doing Man United, only going on Wednesday as an "enabler" for a mate with terrible eyesight so my ticket's free

 

Things will only change if we the fans are prepared to sacrifice going now for a fairer tomorrow.

Absolutely. Unfortunately, very few seem to be prepared to do so.

 

We are lucky that we are not a big draw so our away prices, in the main, have been reasonable.

Yeah, imagine if we were Category A everywhere we went

[sir woody]

This.

 

I constantly see references to "against modern football" on Facebook, Twitter, etc, and yet I know that every single one of those people still parts with their cash every week.

 

The only way prices will come down is if everyone decides enough is enough and withholds their cash.

 

I must be in the minority then, i will not spend that kind of money to watch a game of football. Haven't been to a game this season and out of principle i will not go in the foreseeable future until something changes.

[Sour Mash]

I must be in the minority then, i will not spend that kind of money to watch a game of football. Haven't been to a game this season and out of principle i will not go in the foreseeable future until something changes.

There's been plenty of games this season that have been cheap though?

[View From The Top]

I must be in the minority then, i will not spend that kind of money to watch a game of football. Haven't been to a game this season and out of principle i will not go in the foreseeable future until something changes.

 

Wigan £20, Stoke £25, Arsenal £28, WHU worked £20 each for my nipper & I.

[This Charming Man]

I must be in the minority then, i will not spend that kind of money to watch a game of football. Haven't been to a game this season and out of principle i will not go in the foreseeable future until something changes.

 

Wigan away is only £20, that's reasonable enough. Surely you can attend that one?

[Whitey Grandad]

This.

 

I constantly see references to "against modern football" on Facebook, Twitter, etc, and yet I know that every single one of those people still parts with their cash every week.

 

The only way prices will come down is if everyone decides enough is enough and withholds their cash.

I was sat at lunch recently with an ex-owner of a local non-league club. He used to have a box at St. Mary's but when the price rocketed after the last promotion he told Cortese where to stick it.

[Orange]

This.

 

I constantly see references to "against modern football" on Facebook, Twitter, etc, and yet I know that every single one of those people still parts with their cash every week.

 

The only way prices will come down is if everyone decides enough is enough and withholds their cash.

 

I see your point, but is football not different? Its a passion, going to football means a lot to people, so they're not going to just give that up over night. Everyone thinks the same '1 person won't make any difference.'

 

There was an interesting interview on 5 live Sunday morning with the chief executive of the PL talking ticket prices etc. He was in complete denial and was much more concerned with increasing the percentage of ethnic minorities and women in grounds, then he was about pricing working class people out the game.

[Crab Lungs]

City fans are possibly the most mangiest in football after the Skates so I'm not surprised they baulked at the prices. Hypocrisy as Tokyo says anyway considering there prices.

[Sour Mash]

City fans are possibly the most mangiest in football after the Skates so I'm not surprised they baulked at the prices. Hypocrisy as Tokyo says anyway considering there prices.

Hardly hypocritical is it? They didn't set the prices for our game.

[View From The Top]

Hardly hypocritical is it? They didn't set the prices for our game.

 

TBF they thought it outrageous the prices we were charged.

[Golden Balls]

I can't see how anyone can justify charging over £35 for 90 minutes of "entertainment". Especially when said entertainment is not guaranteed and happens every week.

 

That said, people like me pay it

[Orange]

City fans are possibly the most mangiest in football after the Skates so I'm not surprised they baulked at the prices. Hypocrisy as Tokyo says anyway considering there prices.

 

In fairness its not the fans who set the prices.

[The9]

This.

 

I constantly see references to "against modern football" on Facebook, Twitter, etc, and yet I know that every single one of those people still parts with their cash every week.

 

The only way prices will come down is if everyone decides enough is enough and withholds their cash.

 

Even that won't make any difference unless the clubs (or Premier League) decide empty stadiums are bad for their image and it begins to impact on the money they can make from tv, they could avoid that "image" problem by letting loads of kids in for nothing.

 

Bigger picture is that due to tv money, match day attendance, even now, is under 50% of turnover for all Prem teams. Next season it'll be a much smaller proportion. Why would the clubs even care about attendances when they can sell Official Merchandise to people who don't go to matches ? As long as the tv money props them up the attendance money is almost incidental.

 

The clubs could just as easily perform the PR exercise of capping match costs, but unless they also start subsidising the price of petrol it's not going to make much difference to a lot of people.

Edited 14 January, 2013 by The9

[JRM]

This.

 

I constantly see references to "against modern football" on Facebook, Twitter, etc, and yet I know that every single one of those people still parts with their cash every week.

 

The only way prices will come down is if everyone decides enough is enough and withholds their cash.

 

how many of those people are parting with the full adult price though ? trying to get in with cheaper tickets is fair game. I think it is possible to still attend as a loyal fan but voice your displeasure as much as possible.

[Cabrone]

The greedy Premier league is going to topple over the way it's going, can't happen soon enough IMO.

 

Bundesliga is the way to go, big stadiums, big crowds and cheap ticket prices.

 

The average Man City fan might even be able to fly over to Germany and watch a Bundesliga match for a similar amount to what they'd pay to watch their own team

 

Hans-Joachim Watzke chief executive of Borussia Dortmund has slammed the Premier League by saying English football has lost its soul and he makes some valid points.

.........

He also makes a valid point in terms of the difference between the business models in the Bundesliga and the Premier League. English clubs are pumped as businesses with the fans paying higher ticket prices than ever before as clubs try to turn a profit.

 

He makes a good suggestion that this is something which risks alienating sections of young supporters who are effectively priced out of going to see their team play. Dortmund for example, charge just over £10 for an adult ticket while Arsenal will charge an adult over £100 to go and see a match on the day.

 

Bundesliga puts the Premier League to shame

[Sour Mash]

Even that won't make any difference unless the clubs (or Premier League) decide empty stadiums are bad for their image and it begins to impact on the money they can make from tv, they could avoid that "image" problem by letting loads of kids in for nothing.

 

Bigger picture is that due to tv money, match day attendance, even now, is under 50% of turnover for all Prem teams. Next season it'll be a much smaller proportion. Why would the clubs even care about attendances when they can sell Official Merchandise to people who don't go to matches ? As long as the tv money props them up the attendance money is almost incidental.

 

The clubs could just as easily perform the PR exercise of capping match costs, but unless they also start subsidising the price of petrol it's not going to make much difference to a lot of people.

Of course money from ticket sales isn't "incidental". It might make up a smaller amount of income compared to tv money, but it is still a very significant revenue stream that club's are very much bothered about.

[Sour Mash]

The greedy Premier league is going to topple over the way it's going, can't happen soon enough IMO.

 

Bundesliga is the way to go, big stadiums, big crowds and cheap ticket prices.

 

The average Man City fan might even be able to fly over to Germany and watch a Bundesliga match for a similar amount to what they'd pay to watch their own team

 

 

 

Bundesliga puts the Premier League to shame

Still plenty of Bundesliga tickets around the £40 mark. Premier League clubs charge what they can, pretty much the same as the majority of other football clubs around the world. Unless you can increase supply or reduce demand, clubs will charge what they believe they can get for their tickets.

[sandwichsaint]

The publicity at the weekend may lead to some sort of change in the future, equally if people really do step back and refuse to pay the prices then ultimately prices will have to come down. Clearly there are discussions/proposals out there but whether they are the right ones, or whether they see the light of day is another matter.

 

A cap on away prices of £25/ticket - would seem fair, all teams to charge all away fans the same price.

 

Free transport for away fans (this suggestion from Stoke apparently?) - non-starter for me though lots of people might like it. Can't remember the supposed cost but in the overall scheme of things it wasn't massive. Every away ticket comes with a free bingo bus pass. Only good if you a) live in relatively reasonable commuting distance of your own ground, and b) you want to go on a supporters coach. Massively administratively heavy for the away team and not particularly what's wanted by the average travelling fan. We took 3000 to Villa on Saturday, how many of those would have taken a free place on a coach from SMS? .... stick a pin and I'd say 50% tops.

 

What the clubs don't let on is how small 'gate receipts' are in the bigger scheme of things; gate money is a relatively small percentage of all receipts, and set to become much smaller again when the TV money rolls up next season. A big part of what makes our football attractive; whether that's live at the match, on TV or across a global audience, is the relatively full grounds and the partisan atmosphere that is created. Which in turn is to a large part dependent on having a healthy turn out of away fans.

 

Personally I'd call their bluff and combine the two proposals, all away tickets a flat £20, bin the free transport (an administrative nightmare and not something that a good proportion of fans would want or need).

[stevegrant]

While gate receipts are a much smaller percentage of the overall turnover, let's not kid ourselves that this revenue is insignificant. If that was the case, tickets would be free. This season, matchday revenue will probably touch the £15m mark for us. By any stretch of the imagination, that's a large number.

 

The Arsenal situation yesterday is a rubbish case study, really, because the home club are in a position to sell the returned away tickets to their own fans, especially for a game of that magnitude. Surprisingly enough, a team with a big fanbase are able to sell lots of tickets for a game against the reigning champions.

 

Also, I don't see why away fans should be given cheaper tickets when chances are the majority of those tickets would be sold anyway, and that money will only end up being clawed back by clubs from their own fans. The Football Supporters Federation spent years fighting for the Premier and Football Leagues to introduce rules which ensured fans of all clubs were treated equally, i.e. away fans were always being charged the same as home fans in similar parts of the ground - now they seem to want to unbalance it again.

[The9]

Of course money from ticket sales isn't "incidental". It might make up a smaller amount of income compared to tv money, but it is still a very significant revenue stream that clubs are very much bothered about.

 

Historically it's been much more important that it is at the moment if you're a Prem side. Wigan for one are surviving off tv money and an imaginative transfer policy and wouldn't have a hope in hell of competing in the top league if it was attendance money and merchandising only.

 

Would be useful to know exactly what the percentage of match revenue from overall revenue generated is for various Prem clubs are to have this discussion any further, but you'd have to think the ground-extending (Arsenal and Wolves being the most obvious recent example) implies it's worth doing in the longer term.

 

There's been a negative correlation between attendances and on-field success in both those cases, which assuming clubs are still bothered about filling grounds, is also a factor in pricing.

 

I did have some figures from 2005-2008ish but it's getting out of date as the tv money/parachute payment situation has already changed once since 2005 :

 

West Ham received £40 million for finishing bottom of the Premier League last season compared to Southampton’s £19 million in 2005. Similarly, while Southampton’s relegation was cushioned by £13 million of parachute payments, West Ham will receive £48 million (£16 million in each of the first two years, and £8 million in each of years three and four).

 

So stick another £21m on our tv money for 2005 to get an estimate for this year, and then factor in that the winners this year get less than the bottom club next...

Edited 14 January, 2013 by The9

[The9]

Here's 2011/12's tv deal payment, the range for tv deal to prize money is £39m for last, to £61m for Man City. Our matchday income will remain at approx £15-20m.

 

 

Next season the overall pot is expected to be nearly three times that amount : http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/nov/12/premier-league-tv-rights-5-bn

 

"The existing TV deals, which run to the end of this season, themselves marked a huge increase in overseas income from £650m for the previous three years to around £1.4bn for 2010 to 2013. In total the current deals are worth around £3.5bn"

[stevegrant]

Here's 2011/12's tv deal payment, the range for tv deal to prize money is £39m for last, to £61m for Man City. Our matchday income will remain at approx £15-20m.

 

 

Next season the overall pot is expected to be nearly three times that amount : http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/nov/12/premier-league-tv-rights-5-bn

 

"The existing TV deals, which run to the end of this season, themselves marked a huge increase in overseas income from £650m for the previous three years to around £1.4bn for 2010 to 2013. In total the current deals are worth around £3.5bn"

 

It's only the OVERSEAS portion that is expected to be three times greater. The domestic deal is already known, at a 70% increase.

 

That means the "equal share" from domestic rights will be around £23m, each live appearance on Sky or BT next season will be worth just under £1m and each finishing position will be worth around £1.3m. Overseas rights are split evenly, which looks like it could be worth £50m+ on its own

[Sour Mash]

Here's 2011/12's tv deal payment, the range for tv deal to prize money is £39m for last, to £61m for Man City. Our matchday income will remain at approx £15-20m.

 

 

Next season the overall pot is expected to be nearly three times that amount : http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/nov/12/premier-league-tv-rights-5-bn

 

"The existing TV deals, which run to the end of this season, themselves marked a huge increase in overseas income from £650m for the previous three years to around £1.4bn for 2010 to 2013. In total the current deals are worth around £3.5bn"

All fairly interesting stuff, but I'm not sure what it has to do with ticket prices being too high?

[DanW]

In 2009 the New York Yankees opened a new stadium with new pricing tiers. Their most expensive seats were the ones right behind home plate and they were full leather seats with wait staff and a bunch of other amenities. These seats were priced at $2500. That is not a typo.

 

After a few weeks with the seats remaining mostly empty, the Yankees didn't like that the seats which appeared most regularly on TV...i.e. the seats right behind home plate...were showing up as empty even as the rest of the stadium was full. So what did they do?

 

They slashed ticket prices.

 

Lesson: no one paid the ridiculous price, and the club cut their fees.

 

Unfortunately, the other lesson is: the club will still do what it wants. They cut their prices by 50%(!) which is great. However, that means those tickets were still $1250, which means that they are still overpriced by approximately $1150. But hey, they get companies to buy them and give them to clients or whatnot and I suppose they sell a little better. Also, I think half the reason the club even cared was because of the impression left on the television. Those seats in the corner of the football pitch? Not as much on-screen, so the television pressure isn't as prevelant.

[Window Cleaner]

In 2009 the New York Yankees opened a new stadium with new pricing tiers. Their most expensive seats were the ones right behind home plate and they were full leather seats with wait staff and a bunch of other amenities. These seats were priced at $2500. That is not a typo.

 

After a few weeks with the seats remaining mostly empty, the Yankees didn't like that the seats which appeared most regularly on TV...i.e. the seats right behind home plate...were showing up as empty even as the rest of the stadium was full. So what did they do?

 

They slashed ticket prices.

 

Lesson: no one paid the ridiculous price, and the club cut their fees.

 

Unfortunately, the other lesson is: the club will still do what it wants. They cut their prices by 50%(!) which is great. However, that means those tickets were still $1250, which means that they are still overpriced by approximately $1150. But hey, they get companies to buy them and give them to clients or whatnot and I suppose they sell a little better. Also, I think half the reason the club even cared was because of the impression left on the television. Those seats in the corner of the football pitch? Not as much on-screen, so the television pressure isn't as prevelant.

 

 

2500 dollars for that borefest ?? Where do those people get their money, maybe baseball is a registered charity that you can, knock off your tax or something. Sort of help the down and out and uneducateable sort of thing.

[ericb]

I have a £40 limit on a game of football, that counts for both home and away, if it goes above that then fu.ck 'em. As much as i love the game/day out i'm not encouraging those kind of prices for something that's becoming worse and worse with every year that passes (in terms of enjoyment for me as a day out and a laugh with my mates).

 

Before we went up i was hesitant and skeptical about the premier league "experience" for the fans. Now we're here i pretty much hate all aspect of it. Still i'm fairly sure i'm actually in a small minority when it comes to this and the future is really the Arsenal style, quiet, servile, middle class fans who just want an afternoons entertainment.

[View From The Top]

I have a £40 limit on a game of football, that counts for both home and away, if it goes above that then fu.ck 'em. As much as i love the game/day out i'm not encouraging those kind of prices for something that's becoming worse and worse with every year that passes (in terms of enjoyment for me as a day out and a laugh with my mates).

 

Before we went up i was hesitant and skeptical about the premier league "experience" for the fans. Now we're here i pretty much hate all aspect of it. Still i'm fairly sure i'm actually in a small minority when it comes to this and the future is really the Arsenal style, quiet, servile, middle class fans who just want an afternoons entertainment.

 

You're not alone.

[ericb]

You're not alone.

 

Sadly i know that, most of my mates i've been going with for years (since the mid late 80s) have stopped going. These people came back in force in the lower leagues but much like me really hate the premier league and just can't be arsed wasting their money on a soulless day out that's going to cost the best part of a ton and a half all in (and that's for the close games).

[Window Cleaner]

Sadly i know that, most of my mates i've been going with for years (since the mid late 80s) have stopped going. These people came back in force in the lower leagues but much like me really hate the premier league and just can't be arsed wasting their money on a soulless day out that's going to cost the best part of a ton and a half all in (and that's for the close games).

 

 

why does it cost nigh on 150 £ then? Tickets are around 35/40£ what's the rest for ?

[View From The Top]

Sadly i know that, most of my mates i've been going with for years (since the mid late 80s) have stopped going. These people came back in force in the lower leagues but much like me really hate the premier league and just can't be arsed wasting their money on a soulless day out that's going to cost the best part of a ton and a half all in (and that's for the close games).

 

I've been going with the same lads, home & away, since I moved up here 20 years ago. This is our last season as ST holders as the cost is becoming prohibitive and my nipper has dipped out on Anfield, Chelsea & OT due to their high prices.

 

However, it appears that the likes of Stoke (A) appeals to fans and not day trippers which is great by me.

 

Working mans sport my arse.

[Nutwood2]

I'd have told the bloke where he could stuff his flag. Jumped up little twerp!

[Dr Who?]

Players could not give a toss about the fans. We are suppose to worship them!

[the stain]

The linesman in that clip is a self righteous tit. What's it got to do with him or the players? They would have gone over anyway, so he was just playing up for the camera that was there. And it's not as if the players set the prices or have any influence over it. If he's got something to say then he should choose who he says it to and when a bit more carefully. And no one has forced those people to pay those prices. If I bought and expensive telly from Samsung I wouldn't expect their CEO to send me a letter of thanks.

[TheCholulaKid]

Good article this weekend that touches on this. Neatly ties it in with a deeper societal malaise too:

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/13/football-everything-bad-about-britain

[Lord Duckhunter]

The lino's now been "stood down" by the body that runs ref's .

 

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jan/15/linesman-manchester-city-arsenal

[shurlock]

Good article this weekend that touches on this. Neatly ties it in with a deeper societal malaise too:

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/13/football-everything-bad-about-britain

 

Mug hasn't got a clue. Probably paying hundreds each week to watch the arsenal.

Edited 15 January, 2013 by shurlock

[sammysaint]

Barca ticket prices are slightly less as well between 40-110 euros last time i was going to go last season, least they pretty much grantee good football, unless a **** team like Celtic defend for 90 mins on the edge of there box.

 

600 pound for a ST for us is a rip off 500 would of been acceptable, but anything more is pure greed iMO.

[shurlock]

People are living an idealistic cuckoo land if they fans using collective action and boycotting games will lead to change.

That said, I'm not totally pessimistic about the possibility of change - just think it will come from other sources -the media, organised supporters groups and a few national politicians picking up this agenda.

In other words, better to focus energy through these more 'top-down' channels. If you look at the history of successful social movements over the centuries, it has always been the way.

Edited 15 January, 2013 by shurlock