The BBC’s annual Price of Football survey has found that ticket prices have dropped by an average of 4.2% across England’s top four divisions – but how did Greater Manchester clubs fare?
Mancunian Matters takes a closer look at how much it costs to consider yourself a football of the various clubs across the region.
Manchester City
The country’s wealthiest club now offers the top fight’s cheapest season ticket. At £299, it’s a third of what fans pay at Arsenal and nearly half of the minimum Manchester United fans can expect to pay this season.
In fact, £299 is actually lower than some Conference teams charge.
The club saw slight increases in most tickets but shines when compared to other Premier League clubs. The most expensive season ticket available is only the 9th most expensive in league.
Match day tickets dropped significantly from £26 to £20 at their cheapest but their most expensive games remained at £58, the fifth most expensive in the league.
City now also offer one of the cheapest days out with a ticket, a programme, a pie and a cup of tea all for less than £30.
Kevin Parker, General Secretary of Manchester City FC Supporters Club, feels the supporters are treated well for a Premier League club.
He said: “I think we do get value for money when compared to other Premier League grounds. I think the club is always looking to do more to improve the match day experience and indeed recently held an open forum with fans to discuss ways of doing just that.
“We always look at the Club to improve pricing and the recent Champions League Bundle, where fans can save money by buying all 3 home games upfront, is a perfect example of this.”
Manchester United
Last season’s Premier League winners have essentially frozen ticket prices for this season with only minor increases in match day prices.
Despite the lack of increase, ticket prices do remain amongst the highest in the country with the most expensive season ticket at £950 being the most expensive outside of London.
Fans that buy season tickets are also required to purchase tickets to home games in the F.A. Cup and any European competitions, a requirement that could easily see them being forced to buy a further ten games.
United also took more than just the Premier League trophy back from their neighbours last season, they now boast the most expensive cup of tea in the Football League for a startling £2.50.
Fans had a mixed reaction to the news with some taking to Twitter to bemoan the cost and others feeling it was worth the quality of football on offer.
@SuperWomanMUFC: “Moan about the #PriceOfFootball when you pay for tickets at Old Trafford. I love ya #MUFC but £65 a ticket, c’mon!”
@TommyB_1993: “#PriceOfFootball [Does] not matter cause seeing your team winning. Premier leagues & other silverware is priceless.”
Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic’s reaction to being relegated has strengthened their reputation as a fan friendly club by announcing what essentially amounts to a price drop.
The cheapest available match ticket dropped from £20 to £15 and prices of food and drink at the ground were also lowered, with pies at £2.30 being the cheapest in the division.
Despite increasing from £255 to £280 and £310 to £355 for the cheapest and most expensive season tickets respectively, Wigan fans will get much more bang for the buck this year.
The Championship features 4 more home games a than the Premier League and with the club offering Europa League action for the first time, the average price of a game actually drops from £13.40 to £10.70 for the cheapest ticket.
Jason Taylor, of the Wigan Athletic Supporters Club, said: “The Supporters Club and the Football Club work very closely with each other, and I feel this way they get most things right.
“We are consulted on what we think fans want and need and these are considered and implemented if possible.
“I don’t think prices will increase too much until there is an over demand for tickets and even then I think the Club is grounded enough to keep hold of fans rather than drive them away through price increases.”
Other Price Highlights
Bolton Wanderers fans saw increases in all areas except the most expensive season ticket which dropped by £15 to £460.
The club’s prices remain average for the division and seemed relatively cheap as the club chased promotion last year. With a winless start this season however, fans will soon begin to ask exactly where all of their money is going.
Hyde’s most expensive season ticket costs the same as the second cheapest season ticket in the entire Football League – just £199.
Oldham supporters get some of the cheapest match day tickets in League one paying either £19 or £20.
Bury are one of only a handful of clubs who charge the same price for all match day tickets at just £15. The rest of their tickets are also some of the best in League Two but the cost of a pie and a tea, £3 and £2.20, are the most expensive.
Rochdale, however, sell the cheapest pie in the whole of the Football League at just £2.00.
Picture courtesy of bredburyblues.com
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