The BBC’s Price of Football annual survey was released late last night, and their investigation shows that the price of Premier League football has come down for 2016/17.
Compared to the last survey the (2015/16), the BBC found that ticket prices alone in the Premier League had fallen for two thirds of clubs, or had been frozen at the very least – giving an inflation benefit.
They also noted that given the Premier League’s rejection of ‘£20’s Plenty’, opting instead for a £30 cap on away ticket prices, it still meant Premier League travellers paid in some cases, less than Championship counterparts.
Of course it would be remiss not to mention slightly falling prices offset against the £8.3billion new television deal, in many cases remains unfair on fans and to save me a ramble, Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters’ Federation, commented far more succinctly than I’d have managed.
‘On their current £8.3bn deal, the Premier League could afford to let every single fan in free for every game and still have as much money as they had under the previous deal. That gives you an idea of the scale of the amount of money they have got.’
The Premier League itself wouldn’t let that nugget go, saying themselves as a spinning top whisked across the top of the table.
‘Clubs are listening to their fans and working hard to make sure that Premier League football is accessible as well as competitive and compelling.’
As for other discoveries, whilst fans might have gained on ticket prices in some senses (ignoring those with a Sky Sports or BT Sport subscription that subsidises any price reduction or freeze), replica shirts increased again year on year, and half of Premier League clubs also increased the price of their junior shirts…which is nice.
The BBC also asked for the first time for a % split of male and female season ticket holders, and rather bizarelly only 14 clubs answered – or had the details to answer – with Southampton pointing out one in five season card holders was now of the female variety, whereas at Liverpool the fairer sex only made up 11%.
As for details, the average cheapest home adult ticket in the top flight has fallen on average by 6% on a year on year basis, down from 2015/16 £30.95 to £29.05.
The away ticket cap sees a Premier League most expensive average of £31.57 this season, and that means a drop of 37% compared to last year – down from an average of £46.44 to £29.44 in general.
Only 14% of clubs increased prices, but 34% are cheaper than last year, with 53% frozen.
Hull City, Liverpool and Manchester City reduced their cheapest matchday tickets, whilst Burnley, Middlesbrough and Leicester increased the same category.
In terms of cheapest season tickets, the average now comes to £480 which is cheaper than 2013 prices, where the same comparison came to £489.
As the data is sifted through, the above link will lead you to club specific information, but as ever, Vital Football will give a club by club breakdown in the coming days.
Utter rubbish, the league are always looking for a way into the fan’s pockets