November 16 – Although the majority of ticket prices to watch top-flight football in England have been frozen or have fallen for a third year in succession, young fans say they are still being priced out of the market.
That is one of many findings of the BBC’s latest Price of Football study.
Average season ticket prices across the Premier League are at their lowest levels since 2013, one consequence of the record £8.3 billion global TV rights deal signed last season.
The annual study found 135 clubs out of 190 in England, Scotland and Wales offer reduced prices for teenagers and young adults – separate from any student concessions – but 55% of the fans said they had stopped going completely or go to fewer games because it was too expensive.
The BBC survey showed young fans are more likely to play football computer games that attend matches. Only one in four fans (26%) said they go to watch football live more than once a month.
Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the country’s Football Supporters’ Federation, commented: “The FSF has long argued that ‘young adults’ feel priced out with those in the 18-23 range disproportionately in lower paid employment or education – yet they are often expected to pay full price. These are formative years and we want football clubs to do everything they can to retain supporters of that age – a relatively small ticket subsidy now could secure the club a match-going fan for life.”
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