25% Premier Season Ticket Holders May Not Renew

[QPR Report]

Guardian
Survey: 25% of Premier League season ticket holders may quit their club• Manchester United face biggest potential exodus of supporters
• Rising living costs behind thoughts not to renew next season
Sachin Nakrani guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 10 March 2010

Up to one in four season ticket holders of Premier League clubs are considering not renewing for next season in a bid to cut costs, according to a survey published today.

The Virgin Money's authoritative Football Fans' Inflation Index shows 25% of season ticket holders are thinking of giving up at the end of the season with 4% planning on no longer going to any games while 21% intend to buy tickets when it suits them.

Manchester United face the biggest potential exodus of season ticket holders with 15% giving up going to games entirely while another 44% will only buy tickets when it suits them. United, currently facing supporters-led green-and-gold protests against the Glazer family, who own the club, could see up to 59% of fans cancelling season tickets with Wolves the next most at risk in the Premier League with 54% of supporters considering giving up for next season.

The backlash against season tickets comes despite Virgin's index showing that the cost of attending games has fallen by 6.8% in the past year. Lower ticket prices and reduced costs for replica kit means the match-day cost has fallen to £89.09 compared with £95.60 in January 2009.

That is still 14.29% higher than the match-day cost when the index was launched in January 2006 but is substantially lower than the all-time high of £106.21 in October 2008. Average match tickets across all leagues peaked at £27.38 in July 2009 but have now fallen to an average of £22.59.

The research among more than 3,896 fans representing all 92 clubs in the Football League shows fans of Liverpool and Stoke City are the least likely to give up their season tickets next year with just 9% of supporters considering cutbacks.

"The drop in costs is welcome but season tickets are still priced astronomically compared with other major European leagues such as Spain, Italy and Germany," said Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters' Federation. "At many clubs there's little or no recognition of loyalty in the prices charged compared with buying match by match. Prices for essentials like food, rent, transport and petrol are going up and football fans like everybody else are struggling with frozen or declining pay and unemployment. Clubs need to bear this in mind when setting next season's prices.

"Shamefully, Manchester United was the only Premier League club that put up their prices for the current season. Every other club froze or reduced them. Huge numbers of United fans are in open revolt against the Glazer family's huge cash drain on the club. They're paying the price for the leveraged buyout in 2005 that has loaded a massive £700m debt on to United's books. The Glazer regime has put up ticket prices by half in less than five years. No wonder almost six out of 10 Old Trafford season ticket holders are thinking of not renewing."


Percentage of Premier League club supporters considering cancelling their season tickets next season

Manchester United 59%

Wolves 54%

Burnley 31%

Fulham 29%

Everton 28%

Blackburn 28%

Portsmouth 28%

West Ham 27%

Aston Villa 24%

Sunderland 23%

Wigan 21%

Tottenham 19%

Manchester City 18%

Birmingham 17%

Chelsea 17%

Hull 17%

Arsenal 14%

Bolton 13%

Liverpool 9%

Stoke City 9%

www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/mar/10/season-tickets-survey-manchester-united"

[Lonegunmen]

I loved Manure's new (original) colour scheme. Even Beckham was wearing the scarf.

[scottjones]

Mar 11, 2010 10:01:20 GMT Lonegunmen said:

I loved Manure's new (original) colour scheme. Even Beckham was wearing the scarf.

Nice touch that. Plus I though the reception he got was fantastic - funny when they booed him as well.

[cpr]

Mar 11, 2010 10:07:53 GMT scottjones said:

Mar 11, 2010 10:01:20 GMT Lonegunmen said:

I loved Manure's new (original) colour scheme. Even Beckham was wearing the scarf.

Nice touch that. Plus I though the reception he got was fantastic - funny when they booed him as well.

Got to admit, even though I hate them, their fans sing good songs.

Did I mention, I hate them

Manure won't suffer as they have a list as long as your arm of people queueing for season tickets. A lot may have said that as part of the Newton Heath campaign but if you let a manure season ticket go, you don't get it back. Dead grandads and all that sort of thing innit.

[Lonegunmen]

I'm surprised they dont use that Newton Heath kit as their away kit. it looks heaps better than this seasons home or away kit for them. I too cannot stand them, but I do feel for their fans in that their once very rich club has been hijacked and their assets used to pay for other things. If they fall over, then the EPL is finished. That actually might not be such a bad thing to be honest.

[cpr]

I agree with that lgm, also they wore that kit in c*ntona's days, remember? Even had the lace neck, centenary job I think.

I thought nicking our Buz song for Rooney was bang out of order though!

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D