2012/13 ticket price freeze and 2013/14 rise

[merlboo]

What I can't understand is why do self-proclaimed socialists spend so much time and energy on what is essentially a bunch of highly-paid fellas booting a ball of air about for 90 minutes; haven't you got more weighty matters that you can spend your time (and money) on? And it's not just the premiership era in which the players earn way more than the average national average, it's been going on for yonks. Why not follow Sunday League football and get all your 'community benefit' from that?

We weren't paying ticket prices with a 23 year hike rate of 716% before 1989 . Why should we pay it now .

My first game was in 1976 against Villa at home as a nine year old .

I got a season ticket in 1984 after I'd left school and started work . I've had it since . That was when it was a working mans game affordable to the working class .

Why should we go anywhere else . Those people who I talk of are the lifeblood of this club . Some would do well to remember that

[Alex]

Its not a working class game anymore though is it? Its not been for 15-20 years. They money involved at the top end of the game has put pay to that.

Its not just Liverpool who are charging this sort of mark up. I used to be able to watch Colchester United for £7 (admittedly this was a cheap ticket on a week night), now the cheapest ticket I can get is around £24 for the same sort of position and type of game. That's League 1 football. That's a 329% increase. That's worse if you ask me than Liverpool. Its low league football. Your hardly seeing world stars.

[Sarb]

Its not a working class game anymore though is it? Its not been for 15-20 years. They money involved at the top end of the game has put pay to that.

Its not just Liverpool who are charging this sort of mark up. I used to be able to watch Colchester United for £7 (admittedly this was a cheap ticket on a week night), now the cheapest ticket I can get is around £24 for the same sort of position and type of game. That's League 1 football. That's a 329% increase. That's worse if you ask me than Liverpool. Its low league football. Your hardly seeing world stars.

When Derby County were in the Prem (a few years ago now), their ticket prices were way more than what it cost to see a game at Anfield. Yes the prices have gone up but I don't think Liverpool charge over the top compared to what other prices are in the Premiership. I don't get the moaning to be honest. If you don't want to pay the price don't go. There are plenty of others who will willingly take the place. Not sure how people can expect us to keep ticket prices low whilst everyone else in the League is charging a fortune. Just isn't all about the fans anymore. It's a business

[Alex]

I was wrong on the Cheapest ticket price at Colchester United btw. It seems after looking I can get a £20 ticket in the family enclosure. So its actually a 286% mark up. Which doesnt seem that much now comparing cheapest to cheapest. £20 is still a lot of money to watch League 1 football though.

[merlboo]

When Derby County were in the Prem (a few years ago now), their ticket prices were way more than what it cost to see a game at Anfield. Yes the prices have gone up but I don't think Liverpool charge over the top compared to what other prices are in the Premiership. I don't get the moaning to be honest. If you don't want to pay the price don't go. There are plenty of others who will willingly take the place. Not sure how people can expect us to keep ticket prices low whilst everyone else in the League is charging a fortune. Just isn't all about the fans anymore. It's a business

This will be part of a national campaign to lower prices . It's just us that's initiated it because we've become organised and we have the information .

The 716% rise is something we can't go away from

[Alex]

Just out of interest, what is the 716% rise based on? As in which prices are being compared? Is it an average or the worst case price rises?

[dom9]

You'd have to find a family to go with.

The same argument could be made for the £5 child tickets. What's the inflationary increase there?

[Tee]

This will be part of a national campaign to lower prices . It's just us that's initiated it because we've become organised and we have the information .

The 716% rise is something we can't go away from

Such an important campaign and I wish you guys nothing but the best. I know first hand how difficult it is for youngsters to go and see their local team. There are many football lovers I know who would go to games if it was more affordable, it really is that simple.

[Lee]

I was wrong on the Cheapest ticket price at Colchester United btw. It seems after looking I can get a £20 ticket in the family enclosure. So its actually a 286% mark up. Which doesnt seem that much now comparing cheapest to cheapest. £20 is still a lot of money to watch League 1 football though.

That's not too bad in fairness.

Went to see both Woking and Farnborough play last season and they were £20 a pop.

[dom9]

BTW merlboo, what are your / SOS's (they appear to be one and the same) views on the stadium expansion project? I've not seen you participate in the stadium thread which has seen a lively debate incorporating several viewpoints.

In fact I don't recall SOS being particularly vocal on this issue at all. Does that mean that you're happy with progress under the new regime?

I love being ignored by merlboo.

[Alex]

It is the cheapest ticket in the family enclosure, so you need to take a kid in too. But no, its not terrible. The football is though.

[merlboo]

Just out of interest, what is the 716% rise based on? As in which prices are being compared? Is it an average or the worst case price rises?

Here's a pretty good article here which captures most of the points we've touched on

http://www.teamtalk.com/columns/8559053/Cash-strapped-fans-deserve-New-Deal

Cash-strapped fans deserve New Deal

Tuesday 12th March 2013 10:03





Liverpool fans: Protesting at recent game at Arsenal



Liverpool supporters feel the club's latest ticket-price hike is an "insult" - and TEAMtalk guest Tom Reed agrees a plan of action is needed.

It speaks volumes when fans of Liverpool protest over high ticket prices at Anfield.

After all, the Reds are one of the privileged clubs who are supposed to have done best out of the Premier League revolution.

Despite this, supporters of the Merseyside club have reacted angrily to the news that Liverpool are to increase season ticket prices by up to nine per cent in the Main, Paddock, Centenary and Anfield Road stands for next season.

The most expensive 'walk-up' tickets for high-profile games will break the £50 barrier for the first time.

The Spirit of Shankly Liverpool Supporters' Union are unequivocal in their criticism of the move, calling it "an insult to long-standing supporters who have already suffered a massive 716% price rise since 1989."

And they have a point.

The BBC's Price of Football Survey showed that the average cost of the cheapest adult ticket in the top four divisions of English football has risen by 11.7% - more than five times the rate of inflation in a single year.

This is at a time of a pan-European recession and austerity forecast to last in the UK until 2018.

The Liverpool protests come on the back of Manchester City fans' dissent at sky-high charges for entry at Arsenal, whose ticket prices have also come under attack from the Gunners' own Black Scarf Movement.

Moreover, it doesn't take a genius to work out that there might be a connection between the average cheapest ticket for a match in League 2 being a hefty £17.06 and then 34 clubs responding to the Beeb's survey saying they were either "concerned" or "extremely concerned" about a drop in attendances.

It is immoral for the football industry to build up supporters' loyalty to the point of addiction while simultaneously exploiting that loyalty at the point of entry.

What happened to Lord Justice Taylor's post Hillsborough recommendation? He said "it should be possible to plan a price structure which suits the cheapest seats to the pockets of those presently paying to stand".

There must then be measures implemented to insulate ordinary fans from the inflationary bubble within which the national game finds itself. Fair enough if sponsors wish to furnish the Premier League with billions of pounds of investment and foreign oligarchs choose to use clubs as their own private playthings, but if it means unaffordable pressures on working-class fans, then it all counts for nothing.

The Football Supporters' Federation recently proposed a flat-level price cap of £20 for away tickets as part of their 'Twenty's Plenty' campaign. This was a direct challenge to professional football clubs who, by and large, are equally guilty in exploiting away supporters: an issue which affects fans from across the football pyramid, from the aforementioned £62 travelling supporters charge at the Emirates to the £25 expected of away fans crossing the threshold of Swindon's County Ground in League 1.

However, the 'Twenty's Plenty' plan may not go far enough. A £20 cap might protect away supporters but it will not move to halt the inflation-busting ticket price increases for home fans. Indeed, there is absolutely nothing to stop clubs simply adding on any money lost from the 'Twenty's Plenty' scheme to home fans' charges.

There are alternatives, but a ticket-price cap on all matches (home and away) may be the answer. This could take the form of a sliding scale from the Premier League down to League 2, taking into account consumer price inflation.

A more radical plan would be to introduce minimum and maximum caps in direct reaction to the current financial climate, with immediate relief for supporters.

Of course, there could be provisos built into such caps taking into account clubs' stadium capacities and their investment in infrastructure, meaning different caps for each team but with a guaranteed reduction in current pricing.

A ticket price cap, if implemented in unison with Financial Fair Play legislation on turnover/salary ratios, may also serve to 'normalise' players' wages. However, the Premier and Football Leagues are unlikely to implement measures to ease the financial burden on fans themselves. It will take a broad coalition of supporters and solidarity across the board to push for positive change. There may also be an issue with a ticket-price cap and compatibility with EU Law but there are, it seems, similar concerns over UEFA's Financial Fair Play which has been pushed through successfully.

Any loss in revenue due to ticket-price capping could be addressed by a simple levy on the profits of bookmakers on football betting. After all, as in horse racing, it is only fair that the bookmaking industry, which makes such profits from football, pay some back to ensure its continuing health.

The 32nd US President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, introduced economic programs known as the 'New Deal' in 1930s America to combat the Great Depression. In a time of worryingly similar financial unease, FDR commented that "it is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another, But above all, try something."

Football fans, too, are crying out for a 'New Deal'.

By Tom Reed

[merlboo]

It is the cheapest ticket in the family enclosure, so you need to take a kid in too. But no, its not terrible. The football is though.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19842397

BBC Sport Price of Football survey 2012

The average cost of the cheapest adult ticket in the top four divisions of English football has risen by 11.7% in the past 12 months - more than five times the rate of inflation.

Continue reading the main story

BBC Sport - Price of Football

• Survey of 166 clubs in 10 divisions across British football

Reaction and features on BBC Sport's survey

The BBC Sport Price of Football study shows that the average price of the cheapest matchday ticket in English league football has gone from £19.01 to £21.24

The study looked at prices for 166 clubs in 10 divisions across British football, including the Conference Premier and Women's Super League.

It recorded the prices for the most expensive, and cheapest, season tickets and adult matchday tickets as well as the cost of a cup of tea, a pie, and a programme - to calculate the cheapest possible day out at a match.

At £4, fans of Kidderminster pay the highest price for a pie, while the cheapest is in Scotland, where Alloa, Albion and Forfar charge just £1.

The most expensive tea in British football can be found in Manchester, where both City and United charge £2.50. The cheapest costs 50p at Alloa and Brechin in Scottish Division Two.

Leeds United sell the most expensive programme in Britain at £4, while Inverness CT's is the cheapest at 50p.

[merlboo]

I love being ignored by merlboo.

They could do with getting a move on

All talk and no substance is the short of our standpoint at the moment

[dom9]

They could do with getting a move on

All talk and no substance is the short of our standpoint at the moment

Any plans to issue a narky statement soon?