There have been several discussions regarding the cost of going to a football match, and the huge amounts of money fans must splash out following their team.

Fans, many of whom have families and have to work extremely hard just to put food on the table, are expected to pay what could amount to a day’s wages for a ticket. They then watch players who earn that amount pretty much every time they blink.

Many older fans, like those with families, have been forced to stop going to matches. They still support the club they grew up watching, but can no longer afford to sit in the stands and cheer them on every week.

The biggest problem isn’t necessarily those older fans not attending matches though, but more that the next generation of fans will be put off going to games.

A recent BBC survey showed that 80% of Premier League ticket prices have dropped or remained the same for this season. But, it also revealed that young people are still put off by the cost.

55% of all fans surveyed said the overall cost of attending matches was what stopped them from going to games. With travel, food, drink, and merchandise all adding up to an expensive day out.

Alternatives

One of the biggest reasons for young people, and indeed the older family orientated supporters, do not attend matches anymore is that there are several alternatives.

TV networks show several football matches pretty much every day of the week, and streaming sites make live matches widely available for everyone with an internet connection.

People can watch on their phones and other devices while at work, travelling, or sitting in the comfort of their own home with a cheap can of lager for company.

It may not have the excitement of attending a match, the buzz, the adrenaline, the noise. But, it also doesn’t have the cost and fans won’t be left wondering how their bills will be paid because they spent the money on a ticket to a 0-0 draw on a rainy Tuesday night in November.

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What Can Be Done?

As the survey suggested, prices are falling or at least staying the same. The decrease in prices, however, still isn’t enough to encourage fans to attend.

Also, although the prices of a ticket may have been dropped slightly, the cost of everything else has risen. For example, Fulham fans must pay £4.50 for a pie, and a programme at Southampton costs £4.

It’s when everything is added together that costs mount up and something needs to be done about that.

Hull City provide a matchday package, with cheapest adult ticket, cup of tea, a programme, and a pie for just £20.40.

If every club did a package like this, instead of just random discounts, it would encourage more fans to attend games and allow the next generation to cheer their team on from the stands.