This was debated to death on Waccoe (there are some intelligent people on there - most of them are listers).
The main point of the argument being that apples and oranges were being compared - a vital issue poorly made with some lazy journalism. http://www.waccoe.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=130389&hl=financial+misery+next+season cheers, Andy C 2008/7/10 John Boocock <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > Premiership hits the fan > > By GARY PAYNE > > Published: 19 Jun 2008 In of all places the Sun > > FOOTBALL fans are facing a year of financial misery next season – as the > cost of watching games continues to SOAR. > > An investigation by The Sun has revealed how greedy clubs are set to > cash in on our national sport by massively increasing season ticket prices. > > Six clubs have raised the cost by more than 25 PER CENT — including one > by a whopping 36.4 PER CENT. > > While families struggle to cope with mounting fuel costs, higher > mortgage payments and interest rate hikes, our study of all 92 league > teams proves the cost of football is now out of control. > > We contacted every club to find out the cost of their cheapest > full-price adult season ticket compared with last season and found . . . > > OFFSIDE: Despite being bankrolled by Thai billionaire Thaksin > Shinawatra, Manchester City will have fans reeling as prices shoot up by > 19.7 per cent. > > FOUL PLAY: Arsenal are still the most expensive side in England to > follow, with the cheapest adult season ticket at the Emirates up 4.5 per > cent to a whopping £925. > > BOOKED: Season ticket prices in the Premier League, where stars such as > Wayne Rooney show off their skills, are up 7.8 per cent on average — > more than double the rate of inflation. > > RED CARD: The trend continues in the lower divisions, with League One > flops Leeds United one of the worst sinners, charging fans a minimum of > £440 next season — a rise of £90 or 25.7 per cent. > > Jon Keen, from The Football Supporters' Federation, blasted clubs for > ripping off fans. > > He said: "The Sun's figures prove that season ticket prices are now just > too high. Considering the revenues the leagues generate through TV deals > and merchandising, there is no need for such exorbitant prices. > > "Clubs are holding fans to ransom so they can get richer. It just proves > that they are greedier than ever and it's the fans who are left to foot > the bill. > > "The average age of a season ticket holder in the Premier League is now > 43. If this trend continues we risk losing a generation of fans." > > Leeds failed to win promotion to the Championship, English football's > second tier, last season. But that hasn't stopped chairman Ken Bates > charging fans more than many Premier League clubs. > > The cheapest seats at their Elland Road ground have shot up from £350 to > £440, nearly double the cost of the same tickets at Wigan Athletic > (£250) and higher than ten Premier League clubs including Aston Villa, > Fulham and Blackburn. > > Although Villa have the biggest increase in the Premier League (32.5 per > cent), the price of their cheapest tickets is a relatively modest £265. > > Rick Duniec, from Leeds United Supporters' Trust, believes the increases > are just not justified. > > He said: "A £90 rise is a lot of money, especially when we're playing > in League One. > > "Bates fobbed us off by saying that, if we wanted to watch Premier > League-standard football, we had to pay Premier League prices. That's > fine but fans will get disgruntled when there are all these promises and > nothing is delivered in return. > > "You expect to pay top whack if you're going to watch a show in the West > End. But Leeds is like watching a bad musical by an amateur dramatics > society. > > "I've seen families go to the turnstiles and walk away disappointed > because they can't afford the admission." > > Manchester City's mega-rich owner Thaksin Shinawatra has infuriated fans > by sacking popular manager Sven Goran Eriksson and cranking up season > ticket prices. > > arker said: "I sympathise with families because the increased prices > will make it hard on some people to afford to go to games. > > "They are having to pick and choose what games to go to now because they > can no longer afford to see all of them. > > "After Sven left a lot of fans were angry. But the diehards will be > willing to suffer these price increases — for now. > > "If we signed Ronaldinho, season ticket sales would go through the roof > and the club know that and charge a premium for it. This has to stop > somewhere, though." > > A club source added: "These are the first season ticket rises in five > seasons. We also offered fans the chance to renew their tickets at a > discounted rate if they took up the option straight away." > > The FA last night refused to comment on the escalating cost of football, > insisting it was up to individual clubs to set their prices. > > An Arsenal spokesman said: "Next season's price increase will be our > first in three years and that takes into account our move to the > Emirates. The rise is in line with inflation." > > But Paul Matz, from the club's Independent Supporters' Association, > said: "Although Arsenal offer the best facilities and best football in > the Premier League, just under £1,000 for the cheapest season ticket is > still too high. That must be addressed." > > Some clubs, such as Swansea, Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion, have > been forced into increasing season ticket prices through promotion, > while others, such as Chelsea and Fulham, have frozen prices after > pressure from fans. > > But only 13 teams have lowered the financial burden, including Bolton, > who have dropped season ticket prices by 14.3 per cent to £299 a year. > > A club spokesman said: "Our supporters will be paying less then they did > three years ago. > > "We recognise the huge demands on the pockets of football fans and are > doing our bit to ease the current financial burden, particularly on > families." > > > Port Vale, who were relegated to League Two, lead the way when it comes > to rewarding loyal fans, slashing tickets by almost half from £323 to > £183 per season. > > That works out at just £8 a game. > > Port Vale commercial manager Mike Aldridge said: "We won't make any more > money than we did last season but at least we'll be playing in front of > twice as many people. > > "It will put the club in a much better position in the future. > > "The cost of football is driving many fans away and clubs have to start > to address the balance." > > Our figures also show that clubs in the North East are the most greedy, > charging a 7.6 per cent increase on average, compared with a 3.6 per > cent rise in London. > > > _______________________________________________ > the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators > accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. > Leedslist mailing list > [email protected] > http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist > "the morphine patch and the handfuls of dihydrocodiene and paracetamol did > the business. I am GOING TO WEMBLEY !!!!" Dave Nattan May 16th 2008 > _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist "the morphine patch and the handfuls of dihydrocodiene and paracetamol did the business. I am GOING TO WEMBLEY !!!!" Dave Nattan May 16th 2008
