AVARICE IN THE UK

A Premier league season ticket became a premium item some time ago. A corporate box the 'go to' destination for client shmoozing. The hype of the modern game allowed avarice to flourish, it allowed financial morality and loyalty to the lifeblood of the game (the supporter) to be ridden over roughshod.

We have seen the price of everything associated with the Premier League product climb and climb; much like players wages. Those players' greedy agents push things ever upwards. Owners and board members are only interested in a bit of reflected glory and having their dividends bloated.

The figures below are truly saddening as they exist because we, the supporters, have allowed it to happen; almost by osmosis. These figures are nothing short of scandalous as they are a clear indicator that Football is unconcerned about being a game for the masses.

The Clubs and the people at them who set prices have a simple philosophy; "don't worry about the price hikes, those mugs will pay whatever we want. If they don't there are plenty more fish in the sea."

In earlier posts I have spoken about a tipping point in terms of Premier League football; a point at which supporters can't be squeezed any longer, a point at which the game grabs ahold of itself before it becomes too obese to move. Unfortunately and depressingly I don't think that point is anywhere on the horizon.

Premier League
Club	Cheapest season ticket	Most expensive season ticket	Cheapest match-day ticket	Most expensive match-day ticket	Cheapest day out	Programme	Pie	Tea
Arsenal	£ 985.00*	£ 1,955.00*	£ 26.00	£ 126.00	£ 34.30	£ 3.00	£ 3.30	£ 2.00
Aston Villa	£ 325.00	£ 595.00	£ 20.00	£ 45.00	£ 28.30	£ 3.00	£ 3.20	£ 2.10
Chelsea	£ 595.00	£ 1,250.00	£ 41.00	£ 87.00	£ 49.60	£ 3.00	£ 3.60	£ 2.00
Everton	£ 399.00	£ 672.30	£ 31.00	£ 43.00	£ 38.90	£ 3.00	£ 2.80	£ 2.10
Fulham	£ 399.00	£ 959.00	£ 20.00	£ 75.00	£ 29.30	£ 3.50	£ 3.90	£ 1.90
Liverpool	£ 725.00	£ 802.00	£ 39.00	£ 48.00	£ 47.30	£ 3.00	£ 3.10	£ 2.20
Man City	£ 275.00	£ 695.00	£ 26.00	£ 58.00	£ 35.00	£ 3.00	£ 3.50	£ 2.50
Man Utd	£ 532.00	£ 950.00	£ 30.00	£ 52.00	£ 38.60	£ 3.00	£ 3.10	£ 2.50
Newcastle	£ 322.00	£ 909.00	£ 15.00	£ 70.00	£ 23.00	£ 3.00	£ 2.80	£ 2.20
Norwich	£ 471.00	£ 790.00	£ 30.00	£ 50.00	£ 38.00	£ 3.50	£ 2.50	£ 2.00
QPR	£ 499.00	£ 949.00	£ 25.00	£ 55.00	£ 33.00	£ 3.00	£ 3.00	£ 2.00
Reading	£ 350.00	£ 595.00	£ 37.00	£ 50.00	£ 45.00	£ 3.00	£ 3.20	£ 1.80
Southampton	£ 495.00	£ 780.00	£ 28.00	£ 48.00	£ 36.20	£ 3.00	£ 3.20	£ 2.00
Stoke	£ 344.00	£ 609.00	£ 25.00	£ 50.00	£ 33.10	£ 3.50	£ 2.60	£ 2.00
Sunderland	£ 400.00	£ 845.00	£ 25.00	£ 40.00	£ 33.00	£ 3.00	£ 2.90	£ 2.10
Swansea	£ 429.00	£ 499.00	£ 35.00	£ 45.00	£ 42.80	£ 3.00	£ 3.00	£ 1.80
Tottenham	£ 730.00	£ 1,845.00	£ 32.00	£ 81.00	£ 41.20	£ 3.50	£ 3.70	£ 2.00
West Brom	£ 349.00	£ 449.00	£ 25.00	£ 39.00	£ 33.10	£ 3.00	£ 2.90	£ 2.20
West Ham	£ 480.00	£ 850.00	£ 36.00	£ 67.00	£ 44.50	£ 3.50	£ 3.00	£ 2.00
Wigan	£ 255.00	£ 310.00	£ 20.00	£ -	£ 27.10	£ 3.00	£ 2.30#	£ 1.80#