Post by QPR Report on Aug 8, 2009 6:42:47 GMT
The Times
Football clubs risk paying the penalty for higher price of loyalty
Ashling O’Connor
The fixture list is pinned to the fridge, the scarf strung across the car rear window and new songs have been rehearsed as millions of devotees begin believing that, this time, their team really can win the title.
As the Football League season kicked off last night, however, the traditional frisson of excitement was tinged with worry about the price that must be paid for undying loyalty.
Amid the worst recession for decades the cost of following football is 15.1 per cent higher year on year, or more than seven times the rate of inflation, according to the Virgin Money Football Fans’ Inflation Index.
Such a disparity between Planet Football and Planet Earth is unsustainable, say those predicting the end of the boom enjoyed since the creation of the Premier League in 1992.
Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters’ Federation, said: “People are having a difficult time, losing their jobs while the football business at the top end is swimming in money. There will be a negative reaction.” That backlash could manifest itself in empty seats and a fall in merchandising sales — much-needed income for clubs after the money from television rights.
Football has survived economic downturns before and become stronger. For the Premier League, though, which starts a week today, it is the first time that a season has kicked off in a recession. Dave Boyle, chief executive of Supporters Direct, which advises fans on acquiring a collective shareholding in their club, said: “This is the big test. Top-flight football is no longer affordable for a lot of people.”
Gerry Sutcliffe, the Sports Minister, said: “Football clubs ... must not take their loyal fans for granted.”
For the most part, football has made little concession to the economic downturn. Manchester United, the defending Premier League champions, and owned by the US tycoon Malcolm Glazer, has again raised ticket prices.
Evidence that the downturn is affecting supporters is anecdotal, such as Arsenal fans being offered season tickets after years on the waiting list.
Twelve Premier League clubs have increased season ticket sales and the average attendance last season was the second highest since 1992.
Warnings are coming from increasingly credible quarters, however, Arsène Wenger, who has managed Arsenal since 1996, said: “We will have to become more reasonable ... I believe that in the next eight to ten months football will suffer much more than people think.”
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article6788086.ece
The Times
'Everyone is wary about the rising cost of following football’Ashling O’Connor: case study
Liam Bradford, 24, a supermarket department manager from Stockport, paid £627 to renew his Manchester United season ticket and spends £9,000 a year following the team.
For the first time in five years, he is considering not going to every away fixture. Cup and Champions League games cost him £35 each on top of his season ticket. He said: “Everyone is wary about the cost and there has to be a breaking point. It’s quite a way off for me because I love the club and will make sacrifices. If I had a wife and kids, I’d be in all sorts of trouble.”
Geoff Wilson, 47, who works for a utility company in Rotherham, has followed Leeds United for 30 years and paid £430 to renew his season ticket — a price he described as “obscene”: “The hard core will still pay if they have to, but there is nil incentive for casual fans. There’s a lot of unemployment round here and a family of four simply cannot afford £100 to go to a game. We are close to the tipping point. You can tell from internet message boards that it’s starting to turn
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article6787461.ece
Football clubs risk paying the penalty for higher price of loyalty
Ashling O’Connor
The fixture list is pinned to the fridge, the scarf strung across the car rear window and new songs have been rehearsed as millions of devotees begin believing that, this time, their team really can win the title.
As the Football League season kicked off last night, however, the traditional frisson of excitement was tinged with worry about the price that must be paid for undying loyalty.
Amid the worst recession for decades the cost of following football is 15.1 per cent higher year on year, or more than seven times the rate of inflation, according to the Virgin Money Football Fans’ Inflation Index.
Such a disparity between Planet Football and Planet Earth is unsustainable, say those predicting the end of the boom enjoyed since the creation of the Premier League in 1992.
Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters’ Federation, said: “People are having a difficult time, losing their jobs while the football business at the top end is swimming in money. There will be a negative reaction.” That backlash could manifest itself in empty seats and a fall in merchandising sales — much-needed income for clubs after the money from television rights.
Football has survived economic downturns before and become stronger. For the Premier League, though, which starts a week today, it is the first time that a season has kicked off in a recession. Dave Boyle, chief executive of Supporters Direct, which advises fans on acquiring a collective shareholding in their club, said: “This is the big test. Top-flight football is no longer affordable for a lot of people.”
Gerry Sutcliffe, the Sports Minister, said: “Football clubs ... must not take their loyal fans for granted.”
For the most part, football has made little concession to the economic downturn. Manchester United, the defending Premier League champions, and owned by the US tycoon Malcolm Glazer, has again raised ticket prices.
Evidence that the downturn is affecting supporters is anecdotal, such as Arsenal fans being offered season tickets after years on the waiting list.
Twelve Premier League clubs have increased season ticket sales and the average attendance last season was the second highest since 1992.
Warnings are coming from increasingly credible quarters, however, Arsène Wenger, who has managed Arsenal since 1996, said: “We will have to become more reasonable ... I believe that in the next eight to ten months football will suffer much more than people think.”
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article6788086.ece
The Times
'Everyone is wary about the rising cost of following football’Ashling O’Connor: case study
Liam Bradford, 24, a supermarket department manager from Stockport, paid £627 to renew his Manchester United season ticket and spends £9,000 a year following the team.
For the first time in five years, he is considering not going to every away fixture. Cup and Champions League games cost him £35 each on top of his season ticket. He said: “Everyone is wary about the cost and there has to be a breaking point. It’s quite a way off for me because I love the club and will make sacrifices. If I had a wife and kids, I’d be in all sorts of trouble.”
Geoff Wilson, 47, who works for a utility company in Rotherham, has followed Leeds United for 30 years and paid £430 to renew his season ticket — a price he described as “obscene”: “The hard core will still pay if they have to, but there is nil incentive for casual fans. There’s a lot of unemployment round here and a family of four simply cannot afford £100 to go to a game. We are close to the tipping point. You can tell from internet message boards that it’s starting to turn
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article6787461.ece
