Post by Macmoish on Jul 7, 2011 6:25:32 GMT
Telegraph - Donna Bowster
Premier League clubs accused of exploiting fans after season tickets go up in price by seven per cent
Premier League clubs have been accused of exploiting fans after a Telegraph Sport investigation revealed the cost of the division’s cheapest season tickets has risen by an average of seven per cent since last year.
A comparison of prices for new season ticket holders showed an average increase of 7.12 per cent, outstripping the national pay rise rate of 2.5 per cent.
The biggest price hike came at Fulham, where a standard adult ticket that cost £285 last season will now cost fans £379.
Newly-promoted Queens Park Rangers also took advantage of their Premier League status to increase their cheapest tickets from £450 to £549, a 22 per cent rise.
The increases are a blow to supporters who already face inflation rates of 4.5 per cent while wages increase at a much slower rate.
Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters’ Federation, said rises above inflation were “completely unjustified” and said all prices should be frozen.
“The Premier League has money coming out of its ears because of its media rights deals,” he said.
“In the current economic climate, any rise at all that is above inflation is unjustified. The danger is that they will continue to make the game unaffordable.”
Only four clubs – Stoke, Everton, Bolton and Wolves – froze their prices for new season ticket holders, while others said new fans were able to take advantage of reduced prices by buying early.
A Fulham spokeswoman said: “Our prices for the new campaign started at £95 for juniors and £329 for adults making us the cheapest Premier League club in London for season tickets.”
A Premier League spokesman added: “Ticket pricing is a matter for the individual clubs.”
Cheapest 2011/12 price (£)
Percentage increase
Arsenal
951
6.49%
Aston Villa
360
2.86%
Blackburn Rovers
225
7.66%
Bolton Wanderers
399
0.00%
Chelsea
595
8.18%
Everton
443
0.00%
Fulham
379
32.98%
Liverpool
725
6.62%
Man City
260
4.00%
Man Utd
526
2.53%
Newcastle Utd
345
4.55%
Norwich City
469.5
12.05%
QPR
549
22.00%
Stoke City
344
0.00%
Sunderland
410
3.80%
Swansea City
408
8.80%
Tottenham Hotspur
690
6.15%
West Brom
439
10.03%
Wigan Athletic
270
8.00%
Wolves
522
0.00%
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/8621866/Premier-League-clubs-accused-of-exploiting-fans-after-season-tickets-go-up-in-price-by-seven-per-cent.html
Premier League clubs accused of exploiting fans after season tickets go up in price by seven per cent
Premier League clubs have been accused of exploiting fans after a Telegraph Sport investigation revealed the cost of the division’s cheapest season tickets has risen by an average of seven per cent since last year.
A comparison of prices for new season ticket holders showed an average increase of 7.12 per cent, outstripping the national pay rise rate of 2.5 per cent.
The biggest price hike came at Fulham, where a standard adult ticket that cost £285 last season will now cost fans £379.
Newly-promoted Queens Park Rangers also took advantage of their Premier League status to increase their cheapest tickets from £450 to £549, a 22 per cent rise.
The increases are a blow to supporters who already face inflation rates of 4.5 per cent while wages increase at a much slower rate.
Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters’ Federation, said rises above inflation were “completely unjustified” and said all prices should be frozen.
“The Premier League has money coming out of its ears because of its media rights deals,” he said.
“In the current economic climate, any rise at all that is above inflation is unjustified. The danger is that they will continue to make the game unaffordable.”
Only four clubs – Stoke, Everton, Bolton and Wolves – froze their prices for new season ticket holders, while others said new fans were able to take advantage of reduced prices by buying early.
A Fulham spokeswoman said: “Our prices for the new campaign started at £95 for juniors and £329 for adults making us the cheapest Premier League club in London for season tickets.”
A Premier League spokesman added: “Ticket pricing is a matter for the individual clubs.”
Cheapest 2011/12 price (£)
Percentage increase
Arsenal
951
6.49%
Aston Villa
360
2.86%
Blackburn Rovers
225
7.66%
Bolton Wanderers
399
0.00%
Chelsea
595
8.18%
Everton
443
0.00%
Fulham
379
32.98%
Liverpool
725
6.62%
Man City
260
4.00%
Man Utd
526
2.53%
Newcastle Utd
345
4.55%
Norwich City
469.5
12.05%
QPR
549
22.00%
Stoke City
344
0.00%
Sunderland
410
3.80%
Swansea City
408
8.80%
Tottenham Hotspur
690
6.15%
West Brom
439
10.03%
Wigan Athletic
270
8.00%
Wolves
522
0.00%
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/8621866/Premier-League-clubs-accused-of-exploiting-fans-after-season-tickets-go-up-in-price-by-seven-per-cent.html