The Rising Cost of Football 1981 - now

[Jacko51]

Arsenal: 1981 season ticket price – £84 (equivalent to £273.05 in 2014 prices) compared to £985 for the cheapest ticket this season

 

Aston Villa – 1981 season ticket price £57 (equivalent to £185.28 in 2014 prices) compared to £325 for the cheapest ticket this season

 

Cardiff – 1981 season ticket price £54(*Div 2) (equivalent to £175.53 in 2014 prices) compared to £379 for the cheapest ticket this season

 

Chelsea – 1981 season ticket price £50(*Div 2) (equivalent to £162.53 in 2014 prices) compared to £595 for the cheapest ticket this season

 

Crystal Palace – 1981 season ticket price £69(*Div 2) (£224.29 in 2014 prices) compared to £490 for the cheapest ticket this season

 

Everton – 1981 season ticket price £55 (£178.78 in 2014 prices) compared to £469 for the cheapest ticket this season

 

Fulham – 1981 season ticket price £41(*Div 3) (£133.27 in 2014 prices) compared to £449 for the cheapest ticket this season

 

Hull – 1981 season ticket price price £30(*Div 4) (£97.52 in 2014 prices) compared to £395 for the cheapest ticket this season

 

Liverpool – 1981 season ticket price £63 (£204.79 in 2014 prices) compared to £710 for the cheapest ticket this season

 

Man City – 1981 season ticket price £26 (£84.52 in 2014 prices) compared to £299 for the cheapest ticket this season

 

Man United – 1981 season ticket price £42 (£136.53 in 2014 prices) compared to £532 for the cheapest ticket this season

 

Newcastle – 1981 season ticket price £36(*Div 2) (£117.02 in 2014 prices) compared to £378 for the cheapest ticket this season

 

Norwich – 1981 season ticket price £38(*Div 2) (£123.52 in 2014 prices) compared to £519 for the cheapest ticket this season

 

Southampton – 1981 season ticket price £60 (£195.04 in 2014 prices) compared to £585 for the cheapest ticket this season

 

Stoke – 1981 season ticket price £42 (£136.53 in 2014 prices) compared to £399 for the cheapest ticket this season

 

Sunderland – 1981 season ticket price £60 (£195.04 in 2014 prices) compared to £400 for the cheapest ticket this season

 

Swansea – 1981 season ticket price £75 (£243.80 in 2014 prices) compared to £449 for the cheapest ticket this season

 

Tottenham – 1981 season ticket price £62 (£201.54 in 2014 prices) compared to £730 for the cheapest ticket this season

 

West Brom – 1981 season ticket price £48 (£156.03 in 2014 prices) compared to £349 for the cheapest ticket this season

 

West Ham – 1981 season ticket price £62 (£201.54 in 2014 prices) compared to £640 for the cheapest ticket this season

[carl]

Your stats make football actually look dirt cheap- considering 33 years has passed since 1981.

 

The economy though, has sadly declined and the prices are actually at a higher percentage of people's disposable income than in 1981 considering the state of the job market and the influx of foreign labour together with a lack of exportation and manufacturing jobs the overall disposable income of an average worker (football is supposedly a working class sport!!!!) the price of football is a huge price to pay for 90 minutes of entertainment or in Vale's case watching paint dry....

[davidatpreston]

It would also be interesting to reflect on the reasons why this has happened, and what happens to the vastly inflated sums.

Players (and managers, other football administartors (with the notable exception of referees and their assistants) have taken a huge amount of this and it needs to be stopped. Eventually it will be, one way or another, but the casualties will include many smaller football clubs and their long-suffering supporters.

Companies like Sky are also to blame, and the media in general has elevated the Premier League to a level of hysteria and hype that has replaced the pop music industry. The Premier League table is the new BBC Top 20.

[Tone]

Your stats make football actually look dirt cheap- considering 33 years has passed since 1981.

 

The economy though, has sadly declined and the prices are actually at a higher percentage of people's disposable income than in 1981 considering the state of the job market and the influx of foreign labour together with a lack of exportation and manufacturing jobs the overall disposable income of an average worker (football is supposedly a working class sport!!!!) the price of football is a huge price to pay for 90 minutes of entertainment or in Vale's case watching paint dry....

 

That is not an accurate summation.

 

Remember that in 1981 there were no mobile phones, there was no internet, few people had computers, no Sky TV, most new cars were provided by companies, holidays were to Spain, not to Australia, Thailand, etc. "Disposable" income is considered after taking all those things into account that did not exist in 1981.

 

The prices in Jacko's post are clearly laid out. A Man Utd season ticket was £42, which when inflation is taken into account is £136.53 in 2014 terms.

 

If you are suggesting that football is "dirt cheap" today, you're way off the mark.

 

Or do I misunderstand you?

[The French Connection]

I'm with you Tone. In real terms prices have risen by anything up to 400%. Add in the huge sums from Sky that have come in and you have to ask yourself "where has all the money gone?" We all know the answer, of course, and whilst I think footballers should be well paid to reflect their short careers, what they get today is obscene. Could do with Sky going bust, that would sort a few things out.

[philpvfc]

When stadiums were told to become all seating it became an excuse for clubs to rip fans off.

[Andyregs]

Your stats make football actually look dirt cheap- considering 33 years has passed since 1981.

 

The economy though, has sadly declined and the prices are actually at a higher percentage of people's disposable income than in 1981 considering the state of the job market and the influx of foreign labour together with a lack of exportation and manufacturing jobs the overall disposable income of an average worker (football is supposedly a working class sport!!!!) the price of football is a huge price to pay for 90 minutes of entertainment or in Vale's case watching paint dry....

 

How on earth have you come to that conclusion? It shows the old price in equivalent to 2914 prices. Most are a few hundred pounds dear (equivalently) and arsenal is £700 dearer! And weren't we in recession in 1981.

Football is far too expensive (which I do agree with you on). It just seems you've miss interpreted the post, as ever, just to make some political point.

It would be interested to see the correlation between these prices and the wages of players. Vales walk up prices next year though are disgusting, and will kill off the pay on the day fan.

[smithie]

Vales walk up prices next year though are disgusting, and will kill off the pay on the day fan.

 

They won't be far off par for the course in League 1. I absolutely agree that the pay on the day is far too much, but you've got to assume that there are reasons why the club would prefer to sell tickets in advance. Who knows, the very facility of pay-on-the-day may be a thing of the past soon.

 

The pay-on-the-day £25/26 can be avoided by booking upfront and I'd guess very few Vale fans decide to go on the spur of the moment.

 

For sure, the ticket office on Tuesday v Crawley looked rather quiet!

 

There's no doubt that season tickets are the best way to go, but I appreciate that not everyone can afford one or justify having one.

[Andyregs]

They won't be far off par for the course in League 1. I absolutely agree that the pay on the day is far too much, but you've got to assume that there are reasons why the club would prefer to sell tickets in advance. Who knows, the very facility of pay-on-the-day may be a thing of the past soon.

 

The pay-on-the-day £25/26 can be avoided by booking upfront and I'd guess very few Vale fans decide to go on the spur of the moment.

 

For sure, the ticket office on Tuesday v Crawley looked rather quiet!

 

There's no doubt that season tickets are the best way to go, but I appreciate that not everyone can afford one or justify having one.

 

I would have thought it put us in the higher ticket prices of the league. I'd also argue that many fans are more likely to to go the spur of the moment than booking in advance, though perhaps that's my own situation where I don't know if I'll be able to go until the day. On Tuesday there were less fans than season ticket holders, so perhaps not the best day to compare.

[Jacko51]

Your stats make football actually look dirt cheap- considering 33 years has passed since 1981.

 

What???? The first figure shows the price in 1981. The second figure shows that price as it would be today if the rise in the RPI had been applied. The third figure is what you actually pay now. So prices are actually two, three or four times what they would be if they had just risen in line with other prices. How on earth is that dirt cheap?

[carl]

That is not an accurate summation.

 

Remember that in 1981 there were no mobile phones, there was no internet, few people had computers, no Sky TV, most new cars were provided by companies, holidays were to Spain, not to Australia, Thailand, etc. "Disposable" income is considered after taking all those things into account that did not exist in 1981.

 

The prices in Jacko's post are clearly laid out. A Man Utd season ticket was £42, which when inflation is taken into account is £136.53 in 2014 terms.

 

If you are suggesting that football is "dirt cheap" today, you're way off the mark.

 

Or do I misunderstand you?

 

So you are basically saying that car ownership was very low?? I remember capri's, datsuns, skodas, escorts mk ones (if you had one of them you were the business) cavaliers minis the list goes on....

 

Lucky you if you went Spain- I was 7 years old then can't remember ever taking a holiday in Wales except possibly the odd day trip so cant relate to your 'spain' holiday only plight..

 

I am not specifying middle income brackets i am relating to your normal joe bloggs 'i work in a potbank' kind of person- these people are a lot worse off now there are no manufacturing jobs. The bottom line is Football is not for the working classes anymore and that must change.......

[JOHNNYAITCH]

The reason is.....demand

[philpvfc]

The reason is.....demand

 

Are attendances any higher?

 

I would say the reason is greed.

[JOHNNYAITCH]

If there wan't the demand the 'greedy' would not be able to put the prices up cos enough people would not pay

 

They aren't greedy, they are businessmen/women

[PVTony]

Over 60's price of season ticket for Man.U. works out at £20 per game. Fantastic price when a fan can watch all of the best of teams in England (& Wales) for £20.