An article published by The Guardian newspaper has highlighted another negative aspect of the ever-changing world of modern football. They reported that Arsenal are set to make history next season by offering supporters the first ever £100 non-corporate matchday ticket The club have refused to comment on the claims but simply said that ticket prices were subject o change. This rise in fee would correlate with the VAT increase to 20% in the new year and if indeed the rumours are true, this could be start of a worrying trend for football clubs. (See article here)Ever since their move to Ashburton Grove or the Emirates Stadium as the sponsors demand, Arsenal have been laden with nearly £400 million worth of debt and have operated with a very shrewd transfer policy ever since then, much to the frustration of their supporters who have not seen a trophy delivered since 2005. In fact, Arsenal are known for passing on the deficit to their supporters: the cheapest season ticket costs a massive £893. A sum of money that would be enough to buy FOUR equivalents at Blackburn Rovers. Even Chelsea, who have a fabled association with high ticket prices only charge £560 for a similar ticket.
If they do introduce this £100 ticket then where does that leave supporters? In this country many clubs over-charge for tickets in a culture that has seen prices rise gradually over the decades. It is easy to look back and see supporters paying pennies to watch the great Liverpool sides of the 1970s and 80s but it was a different era back then. Clubs now rely on income from ticket sales just to stay afloat but the level of inflation in recent years is quite simply appalling. Unfortunately, I am guilty of playing this mug's game and have travelled to grounds like Carlisle and Brighton only to stand on uncovered terraces in howling wind and rain, watching awful football and pay over £20 for the pleasure. For some, it's a ritual and almost a way of life. For others (like me for instance) it simply boils down to clocking up life experiences: doing it to say "I was there".
On the other hand, it is hardly surprising that fans are voting with their feet and refusing to pay £20 plus to watch Third or Fourth Division football. Bradford City, relegated to the bottom tier a couple of seasons ago have gone about things the right way: the board lowered ticket prices and encouraged fans to buy season tickets to such an extent that they now boast over 12,000 season ticket holders. Most clubs in the bottom two divisions can barely pull in that sort of total attendence once a season, let alone a regular turnout of just season ticket holders.
Recently, in Germany, supporters of Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund boycotted their derby over plans by Dortmund to raise the price of an adult ticket to 20 Euros. A mere 20 Euros to watch top-flight German football. Even the average price of a season ticket at clubs like Dortmund and Bayern Munich are a little under £200. No wonder these clubs play in grounds that are full to the rafters week in, week out.
While events on and off the pitch dominate the headlines, it appears that increased ticket prices have slipped under the radar in this country. For the sake of football as a spectator sport, let's hope that clubs start to see the benefits of doing what Bradford City have done and that we see less of what Arsenal plan to do.
(Picture: http://www.skysports.com/)
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