Price of Football

[S5Blade]

So, This study got released again last night......

 

[RMBlade]

Which study? Wheres the study!

I don't think your link worked mate.

 

[metalblade]

Sheffield United shirts are the most expensive in league one

 

[awblade]

Done by BBC, i think.

I say this everytime this discussion comes up. But I don't think a ticket for league one should cost any more than £17. Then £20 and £25 for premier league. Price of tickets has gone far beyond being a joke nowadays.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Are we still cheapest in the country for "Matchday Experience" (ticket+programme+pie)?

I went to a match at Leicester recently. A pie cost me £4.50.

 

[S5Blade]

Good point.... Sorry, forgot the link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34531731

 

[raul]

BTL with the Wednesday numbers in 5....4.....3.........

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Small mercies: we do well in the "average cost band" column. (We'll be at the very upper end of that band, mind.)

 

[boo radley]

It is a sad fact that not much will change till fan protests include a mass walkout.
Can ayone really see that happening?

 

[wizadry]

It is a sad fact that not much will change till fan protests include a mass walkout.
Can ayone really see that happening?

No.

 

[stringjunior]

No.

ditto

 

[Tyler Durden]

Evertons chief executive on telly last night defending the 6.5% Premiership ticket price hike.

Spouted a crock of shit about how the price reflects the "product" on offer for the "best league in the world".

And he's in charge of a team nicknamed "The Peoples Club". It's a fucking disgrace.

 

[TJB.]

It is a sad fact that not much will change till fan protests include a mass walkout.
Can ayone really see that happening?

It's a dilemna that really tears at the conscience. Standing up to our clubs en-masse and saying 'No' to high matchday prices is something I would support and most probably attend, but in the back of my mind I'd know that I wouldn't be lending my usual support to the XI on the pitch. It's not the fault of the players that footy prices are so high, yet they'd have to put up with a very low level of support for a game if said protest was to gain significant backing from fans.

At the moment it's bad, but it's not yet bad enough to tear enough fans away from their grounds to make the clubs take notice. One hopes it doesn't reach that point and more clubs seek ways to lower prices, but I can't see that happening.

The ticket prices at United aren't TOO bad, but the food and drink are diabolical. I've heard people say 'just don't have it', but that's their choice and I think a lot of them avoid it simply because they know it's cack.

We charge £3.40 for a Pukka Pie. Anyone had the locally made pies found in places like Bury and Rochdale? They're superb. Why can't we get better value for money there? There must be a tonne of bakeries in the city which could improve on a Pukka Pie.

We have a thriving beer scene in the city, yet we get offered Carlsberg or Greene King. Why not bottled ale poured into plastic glasses (wouldn't keep for long enough on draught)? Or, quite simply, a better fucking lager than Carlsberg?!

 

[SwissBlade]

Evertons chief executive on telly last night defending the 6.5% Premiership ticket price hike.

Spouted a crock of shit about how the price reflects the "product" on offer for the "best league in the world".

And he's in charge of a team nicknamed "The Peoples Club". It's a fucking disgrace.

It's a nonsense isn't it. The premier league is self proclaimed "best league in the world", however, when you sell it to everybody it brings more money and all the top players.

It doesn't make it the best in the world, it makes it the most viewed. I cancelled sky sports as I find it an uncompetitive league with the richest clubs forming the top 4-6

 

[Grappler]

It's a dilemna that really tears at the conscience. Standing up to our clubs en-masse and saying 'No' to high matchday prices is something I would support and most probably attend, but in the back of my mind I'd know that I wouldn't be lending my usual support to the XI on the pitch. It's not the fault of the players that footy prices are so high, yet they'd have to put up with a very low level of support for a game if said protest was to gain significant backing from fans.

At the moment it's bad, but it's not yet bad enough to tear enough fans away from their grounds to make the clubs take notice. One hopes it doesn't reach that point and more clubs seek ways to lower prices, but I can't see that happening.

The ticket prices at United aren't TOO bad, but the food and drink are diabolical. I've heard people say 'just don't have it', but that's their choice and I think a lot of them avoid it simply because they know it's cack.

We charge £3.40 for a Pukka Pie. Anyone had the locally made pies found in places like Bury and Rochdale? They're superb. Why can't we get better value for money there? There must be a tonne of bakeries in the city which could improve on a Pukka Pie.

We have a thriving beer scene in the city, yet we get offered Carlsberg or Greene King. Why not bottled ale poured into plastic glasses (wouldn't keep for long enough on draught)? Or, quite simply, a better fucking lager than Carlsberg?!

Even the pies at Port stinking Vale were nice!

For beer, I think supporting local pubs is better, plenty of good choices on London Road area.

 

[RMBlade]

It doesn't make it the best in the world, it makes it the most viewed. I cancelled sky sports as I find it an uncompetitive league with the richest clubs forming the top 4-6

Don't know about that one... its the most competitive major league in Europe. The richer clubs should be at the top and stay there due to higher incomes from European competitions, but as seen before teams drop off Liverpool, Man U, Chelsea have all very recently dropped out of the top 4.

Just look at the league table Leicester, Palace and Wet spam all in the top 6 (I think).

Take a look at spain outside Real, Barca and on occasion Athletico no one touches them.

Germany Bayern win pretty much every year with BVB, Wolfsburg and Bayer Lavcusen (spelt wrong) making up the top 4.

France PSG win it every year with Marseilles, Lyon and Monaco making up the top 4.

Italy Juventus usually boss it, with Roma and Napoli some way behind but way ahead of the rest.

 

[TJB.]

Even the pies at Port stinking Vale were nice!

For beer, I think supporting local pubs is better, plenty of good choices on London Road area.

They were very tasty indeed!

Supporting local pubs is a given and will continue to happen every matchday, before and after the game. It's the punters supporting them, though. The club only really helps them due to its location. Don't recall hearing a peep out of the club when The Sportsman shut down!

If other clubs can serve up good quality, locally sourced refreshments then why can't ours?

Perhaps pouring a decent pint might be too much to handle for the gormy children behind the drinks counter?

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Sheffield United shirts are the most expensive in league one

You can build-your-own for half the price...

 

[Grappler]

They were very tasty indeed!

Supporting local pubs is a given and will continue to happen every matchday, before and after the game. It's the punters supporting them, though. The club only really helps them due to its location. Don't recall hearing a peep out of the club when The Sportsman shut down!

If other clubs can serve up good quality, locally sourced refreshments then why can't ours?

Perhaps pouring a decent pint might be too much to handle for the gormy children behind the drinks counter?

I think, as you said, the problem with beer is that real ale won't last a week, from Saturday to Saturday, if there is no midweek game. Mind you, it wouldn't be hard for a local brewery (and we have lots in and around Sheffield) to produce a low to mid strength real ale, call it "Blades Best" or something, and have the club sell it for it less than 3 quid a pint, and sell out on match day, no stock problems.

 

[RMBlade]

The problem is no matter the price people will still buy the shirts.

I haven't bought one this year... mainly because i prefer last seasons RED AND WHITE one better.

 

[SwissBlade]

Don't know about that one... its the most competitive major league in Europe. The richer clubs should be at the top and stay there due to higher incomes from European competitions, but as seen before teams drop off Liverpool, Man U, Chelsea have all very recently dropped out of the top 4.

Just look at the league table Leicester, Palace and Wet spam all in the top 6 (I think).

Take a look at spain outside Real, Barca and on occasion Athletico no one touches them.

Germany Bayern win pretty much every year with BVB, Wolfsburg and Bayer Lavcusen (spelt wrong) making up the top 4.

France PSG win it every year with Marseilles, Lyon and Monaco making up the top 4.

Italy Juventus usually boss it, with Roma and Napoli some way behind but way ahead of the rest.

Doesn't make it the best though does it? Personally I'd rather watch the Championship than the premier league as it's much more competitive.

End of the season in the premier league the same top 4-6 teams will be there. Occasionally someone else gate crashes the party for a season, but once their Europa league campaign gets underway they drop off the following season

 

[TJB.]

I think, as you said, the problem with beer is that real ale won't last a week, from Saturday to Saturday, if there is no midweek game. Mind you, it wouldn't be hard for a local brewery (and we have lots in and around Sheffield) to produce a low to mid strength real ale, call it "Blades Best" or something, and have the club sell it for it less than 3 quid a pint, and sell out on match day, no stock problems.

That sounds too much like common sense!

It's a grand idea. A 'while stocks last' type thing. There must be locally brewed lager which will keep well, surely?

 

[RMBlade]

Doesn't make it the best though does it? Personally I'd rather watch the Championship than the premier league as it's much more competitive.

End of the season in the premier league the same top 4-6 teams will be there. Occasionally someone else gate crashes the party for a season, but once their Europa league campaign gets underway they drop off the following season

Now in terms of league competitiveness yes the championship is more competitive (I did say the major leagues in Europe).

For me there is more to it than just being competitive.

1. The coverage I think the coverage of the PL is much better than the coverage shown in the UK of any other league.

2. The big name players, granted the PL don't have Messi or Ronaldo but outside of La Liga the PL has tonnes of big names.

3. Similarly to point 1 with the PL being covered more through MOTD etc i know more of the players, where as in League 1 for example outside of UTD I dont really know that players.

Just my opinion of course, the MLS is really competitive but the standard is pretty poor to be honest.

 

[DI36O]

Didn't we used to have a Sheffield United cider a few years ago?

I imagine Pukka Pies must pay a fair bit for advertising boards so that's probably how the deal came about. Profitability. Remember most folk that decide they're going for a pie at half time won't give a shit when they find out it's not made by an artisan bakery, as Palace apparently use.

 

[Grappler]

That sounds too much like common sense!

It's a grand idea. A 'while stocks last' type thing. There must be locally brewed lager which will keep well, surely?

Stancill brew lager, seen it in a few places, usually outsells the mass produced garbage on offer.

http://www.stancillbrewery.co.uk/lager.html

Went to watch the Blades play Leyton Orient a few years ago and stayed over in a big boozer, 20 minutes walk from the ground, traditional boozer with accommodation. They brewed all their own beer and lager in huge car park out at the back of the pub. The most expensive beer was about 2.40, all the others were 2.00 - 2.20 from memory (had about 8 ales on). Anyway, the landlord gave me a few free ones at the end of the night, and told me about his lager. He said whenever youngsters came in the pub, they usually asked for Carling, and he always said "no problem lads, but before I pour them, have half of my lager, on the house", he said no one ever asked for Carling again after drinking his.

He gave me half to try and it was lovely because it wasn't gassy, he said he brewed the lager and put it into huge, sterile, plastic bags. The bags were then put into steel barrels and the barrels filled with water, then a gas line was attached. So the gas forced the water around the bag, like putting your hands around a balloon and pushing it, the water squeezed the bag and that was what forced it out of the taps.

Sorry to ramble, beer is another subject I like, like SUFC!

 

[Houston_Blade]

It's not the fault of the players that footy prices are so high, yet they'd have to put up with a very low level of support for a game if said protest was to gain significant backing from fans.

I partly agree and partly disagree with this. It's less so the players fault in the league's below the Championship as they are less likely to be demanding extortionate wages but ultimately the reason we are paying more now than 10 years ago to go through the gates is to fund players wages.

While the "20's plenty" campaign is a good one and I'm fully behind I can't help thinking a campaign against extortionate salaries would be much better and would have a similar end result as long as clubs passed savings onto fans. I also think that each time the PL sign off on a lucrative TV deal they should specify to clubs that it should result in an x% saving on ticket prices across the board.

That said if salaries in my chosen occupation went up at over the next 20 years in the way that football players salaries my principles would quickly go out of the window in the interests of making a better life for my family and I'm sure footballers are also of this mentality.

It's hard because it dismays me that the club and it's board are underwriting losses each year just to stand still and the way to drive revenue is predominantly through ticket sales (unless you are a corporate machine and we're definitely not), at the same time I feel that clubs charging £400+ for a League 1 season ticket would give Dick Turpin a semi on.

In my opinion a lot of time and effort went into the FFP and SCMP rules, time that could have been better spent looking at this from a clubs perspective. You can't impose a cap on salaries as a governing body if you are doing your level best to push up the thing that you are imposing a cap on.

Very quick analysis in 2 mins just now but say the average turnover for a L1 club is £7m and the SCMP states a ceiling of 60% then that leaves £4.2m for players salaries. If you then divide that by an average first team squad size of 25 it's £168k per year on average. Some weighting exercise would need to be done but capping L1 salaries at somewhere between £170k and £200k per year should help drive down clubs costs. Then if like us you have a turnover of £10m you can afford to employ more of the top earners and should benefit but it's levelling the playing field somewhat for the rest. The problem comes where you have a squad of players on £500k+ and drop down a division and they all to take a massive pay cut on the chin, all I'd say is that it's linked to performance and if they didn't get relegated then they wouldn't have had to take the cut. Feel free to drive a bus through this but it's a starter for ten.

It won't happen as I'm sure the PFA would get involved but again they are perpetuating the problem and looking after their own at the expense of the fans. The long term answer would be a boycott by all fans for a good number of games, the problem is teams like Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal have 75k fans in the wings without principles who would still attend the games so would never work.

 

[TJB.]

I partly agree and partly disagree with this. It's less so the players fault in the league's below the Championship as they are less likely to be demanding extortionate wages but ultimately the reason we are paying more now than 10 years ago to go through the gates is to fund players wages.

While the "20's plenty" campaign is a good one and I'm fully behind I can't help thinking a campaign against extortionate salaries would be much better and would have a similar end result as long as clubs passed savings onto fans. I also think that each time the PL sign off on a lucrative TV deal they should specify to clubs that it should result in an x% saving on ticket prices across the board.

That said if salaries in my chosen occupation went up at over the next 20 years in the way that football players salaries my principles would quickly go out of the window in the interests of making a better life for my family and I'm sure footballers are also of this mentality.

It's hard because it dismays me that the club and it's board are underwriting losses each year just to stand still and the way to drive revenue is predominantly through ticket sales (unless you are a corporate machine and we're definitely not), at the same time I feel that clubs charging £400+ for a League 1 season ticket would give Dick Turpin a semi on.

In my opinion a lot of time and effort went into the FFP and SCMP rules, time that could have been better spent looking at this from a clubs perspective. You can't impose a cap on salaries as a governing body if you are doing your level best to push up the thing that you are imposing a cap on.

Very quick analysis in 2 mins just now but say the average turnover for a L1 club is £7m and the SCMP states a ceiling of 60% then that leaves £4.2m for players salaries. If you then divide that by an average first team squad size of 25 it's £168k per year on average. Some weighting exercise would need to be done but capping L1 salaries at somewhere between £170k and £200k per year should help drive down clubs costs. Then if like us you have a turnover of £10m you can afford to employ more of the top earners and should benefit but it's levelling the playing field somewhat for the rest. The problem comes where you have a squad of players on £500k+ and drop down a division and they all to take a massive pay cut on the chin, all I'd say is that it's linked to performance and if they didn't get relegated then they wouldn't have had to take the cut. Feel free to drive a bus through this but it's a starter for ten.

It won't happen as I'm sure the PFA would get involved but again they are perpetuating the problem and looking after their own at the expense of the fans. The long term answer would be a boycott by all fans for a good number of games, the problem is teams like Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal have 75k fans in the wings without principles who would still attend the games so would never work.

Agree in part with what you say. I think it works both ways in terms of Prem wages; some players push for more dosh when they know the club can afford it (or can't afford to lose them), but some clubs offer big wages which players then find difficult to turn down.

Case in point - Kevin de Bruyne. Wolfsburg say he went because City offered him an 'astonishing wage' to go there. This plus his huge transfer fee, plus the Sterling fee they paid...all that just after announcing back in April that some season tickets were to double in price to push them into the thousands (some are £299) and fans knowing full well that the owners are swimming in the oil money.

The price of the Premier League as a product goes up and up around the world, but the product must remain a premium one in order for the price to keep soaring, so the dosh goes on players instead of keeping ticket prices down. As you say, there will be some players who demand huge wages, but there'll be many clubs who just offer it on a plate. And then the age-old question poses 'Who wouldn't want to be paid a shitload of money to do something they love?'...

I think my initial point was that the deep-rooted reasons behind such a protest would not be the fault of the players on the pitch, yet they'd be the ones with a couple of thousand less voices to cheer them on. Some of our players weren't long out of nappies when the problems for Enlgish football really started.

 

[RMBlade]

Very quick analysis in 2 mins just now but say the average turnover for a L1 club is £7m and the SCMP states a ceiling of 60% then that leaves £4.2m for players salaries. If you then divide that by an average first team squad size of 25 it's £168k per year on average. Some weighting exercise would need to be done but capping L1 salaries at somewhere between £170k and £200k per year should help drive down clubs costs. Then if like us you have a turnover of £10m you can afford to employ more of the top earners and should benefit but it's levelling the playing field somewhat for the rest. The problem comes where you have a squad of players on £500k+ and drop down a division and they all to take a massive pay cut on the chin, all I'd say is that it's linked to performance and if they didn't get relegated then they wouldn't have had to take the cut. Feel free to drive a bus through this but it's a starter for ten.

I know this was a quick idea but what about the multi million £ sponsorship deals made between club and another company which is owned by the owner of the club.

Its tricky and the FA would put a salary cap on it because of European football. How can we attract the best players in the world if we can only pay them a third of what they can earn else where.

It would need to be FIFA to take action but Real, Barca etc probably have them in their pockets so that would never happen either.

I guess the only option is to suck it up unfortunately.

 

[grafikhaus]

It is a sad fact that not much will change till fan protests include a mass walkout.
Can ayone really see that happening?

Not while those fans keep demanding new/better signings.

 

[Jonboy60]

Bayern Munich supporters plan to protest at the Emirates champions league tie, because they are being charged £64 a ticket.