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BBC Study Finds Most U.K. Football Ticket Prices Frozen Or Reduced

The cost of watching football in the U.K. "has dropped or remained the same for the majority of fans," according to the BBC. The BBC's The Price of Football study, the largest study of its kind in Europe, "looked at costs at 227 clubs in 13 U.K. leagues." More than "700 tickets were analyzed, with 70% seeing a price freeze or reduction" for the '15-16 season. Some "51.91% were held, 18.09% of tickets were reduced and 30% of tickets more expensive this season." The "average cost of a replica football shirt" is now £42.18 ($65.33) for adults and £33.78 ($52.32) for children. In "the Premier League this rises" to £49.68 ($76.95) and £38.42 ($59.51) "thanks to a 4.82% increase in the average price this season." Now "in its fifth year," the study found:

  • Two-thirds of Premier League tickets "were frozen or reduced in price." 
  • The "cheapest match-day ticket in England's top flight" now costs more than £30 ($46.50) on average "for the first time after 11 clubs put up prices in this category." 
  • The Scottish Premiership's "cheapest ticket" now costs £20.17 ($31.24) on average after a 1.2% fall in price. This "is less than England's Championship and League One." 
  • In "the Welsh Premier League and Irish Premiership, fans pay less" than £10 ($15.50) per match.
  • Tickets in the Women's Super League in England, "which saw attendances increase by 48% after the World Cup in June and July," cost less than £5 ($7.74).
  • Arsenal has "the most expensive match-day ticket in the Premier League" at £97 ($150).
  • Leicester City offers the "cheapest match-day ticket in the Premier League" at £22 ($34).
  • Derby County, Reading and Huddersfield have the "cheapest in the top five leagues in England" match-day tickets at £10 (BBC, 10/14).
FINDINGS SAY 'A LOT': In London, Joe Shread reported Football Supporters' Federation CEO Kevin Miles said that "the way this year's findings have been received is an indictment of how expensive it is to be a modern match-going fan." Miles: "It says a lot about modern football when it's hailed as unusually good news that ticket prices aren't rising even further. Last season, football was incredibly expensive, it remains expensive this season" (LONDON TIMES, 10/15). Also in London, Adrian Kajumba wrote fans could buy a Barcelona or Bayern Munich season ticket for "less than the cheapest equivalent ticket" at every club in the top four leagues in England and Scotland. German supporters "can get into a top-flight game" for under £12 ($18) (DAILY MIRROR, 10/14). 

LEAGUE RESPONSE: In London, Sam Cunningham reported the BBC "has been accused of misleading fans in its Price of Football study." BBC Sport revealed that the cheapest Premier League match-day ticket has passed £30 "for the first time." However, the Premier League "hit back at the accusation and suggest it is a deceptive figure." A Premier League spokesperson said, "The BBC's focus on single match tickets is misleading as the vast majority -- two thirds -- of Premier League match attenders are season ticket holders. Our research shows that the average price paid by them is £32.50 ($50.34) for adults and £10 for juniors. Outside of London the average drops to £29 and £9 respectively." Sources at the Premier League have pointed out that, "while the Bundesliga price is accurate, to buy a Barcelona season ticket for that little a supporter must be a member first," at a cost of £131 ($203) per year, and then "join a waiting list that could last several years before they can get one" (DAILY MAIL, 10/14). 

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