Last season, when promotion was still a possibility, Beesotted polled a number of Brentford fans to see whether they would be prepared to pay a premium to watch Premier League football at a reduced capacity Griffin Park (assuming the authorities would allow us to stay). And if so, what that premium would be.
Not saying that we will be playing in the Premier League any time soon. But with Sheffield Wednesday recently feeling they can charge £52 in The Championship … and Norwich not happy with upsetting fans in The Championship by charging extortionate prices, now going onto the Premier League and causing Crystal Palace fans to complain about the high price of their away game at Carrow Road (£45), we thought it would be interesting to gauge exactly where Bees’ fans heads were at with regards pricing for their club.
We also asked, if Brentford had to move to another stadium, what price do fans feel would be acceptable to pay to watch Premier League football and how much they felt was acceptable to be charged as an away fan.
Below are the results of the survey with a selection of comments from fans. More interestingly, although this survey was set up with a focus on possible Premier League pricing, it gives a very good indication as to what prices fans currently feel would be acceptable for Championship football.
1. What is a fair price to see Brentford play in the Premier League at Griffin Park (capacity 12,000 or less) – giving the cheapest season ticket equivalent price/game
25% felt £25 was a fair figure to see Brentford play at Griffin Park in the Premier League whereas 23% thought £20 was on point. 14% were prepared to fork out £30. Only 5% were happy to pay over £30 whereas only 6% were prepared to pay between £26 and £29.
With TV revenue at an all time high, the club should be financially safe if they freeze or even reduce the cost of tickets. Any higher would be a big deterrent, and a bit of a joke considering how much income they would be receiving
Quality of teams seen would be high but ground facilities are poor. 90 minutes of entertainment is never worth more than £30. Fiver off for poor facilities. Esp. Women’s loos!
Without increasing the tickets you would rewarding the fans for being there for the club for all these years, through thick and thin. Plus we wouldn’t be watching football at a premier league stadium
Because id rather pay more to see premier league footie at brentfords home griffin park
2. What is a fair price to see Brentford play in the Premier League at a DIFFERENT stadium (capacity 20,000 or more) – giving the cheapest season ticket equivalent price/game
Nearly 50% of respondents felt £25 and £20 was a fair figure if Brentford were to play in another stadium in the Premier League (i.e. ground share). 12% said £30 and only 5% were prepared to pay over £30.
I think there should be a cap on ticket prices. I don’t believe the stadium should dictate the price of a ticket. Sheffield United and Leeds have a ground worthy of the prem but you can’t justify increasing the cost on that basis alone. The price should reflect the quality of players you are watching and how big the club becomes through it’s increased success.
More fans on seats, more money for BFC. Should be able to lower ticket prices yet bring in more money.
clubs get enough tv money
We need to start thinking about filling the new stadium when we move to our new home. If we get large crowds at a temporary stadium with a great atmosphere then this is likely to roll into the new ground
It doesn’t matter what ground we’re at or what or who the opposition is. I can’t stretch my income any further. I won’t have the “Oh but the facilities are better so you have to pay for them” excuse either. I thought we were moving to a new ground so the extra facilities would bring in more income, thus keep the price for the fans down?
3. What do you think is a fair advance purchase ticket price for Brentford fans to pay for AWAY games if they got to the Premier League
75% of respondents felt that £20, £25 and £30 were a fair price to pay for Premier League away matches with only 5% of respondents believing anything over £30 was a fair price to pay.
I accept clubs want to make a profit from travelling fans but any more than £30 is exploitation.
you have to take into account travel and in some cases accommodation. with these taken in account, going to an away game can end up being a £100+ day out.
£35 not to expensive for top flight football, and gives lower income supporters a chance to see an away game in the prem.
Away fans can be encouraged to go and improve atmosphere if prices not too high
Better standard of football so an increased price would be fair. Anything more than £25 is too much.
these grounds have a bigger capacity and can generate more income. i think £20 is a fair price when you always have to pay for more than 1 ticket as it’s a family affair for us, and also the additional cost of travel
4. Do you believe that away fans should be offered tickets at the price of the lowest full price home ticket as part of their allocation?
Over 80% of respondents felt that away fans should be offered tickets at the lowest price that home fans are offered tickets. Leeds placed away fans in one of the most expensive parts of the stadium last season which justified them charging Brentford fans £34 … and in the case of some teams close to £40 for a ticket.
There is no logical reason why a ticket price should rise because you support a particular team. We are all football fans and we should be treated fairly. Unless someone can come up with an economical reason why away fans cost more to house than home.
Because this is the most equitable way of incentivising both Home and Away supporters to maximise attendances.
1) fairness
2) encourage more fans to attend away games
That’s not fair, the cheapest seats would be restricted view which I accept isn’t as likely in the prem however you should exspect to pay the going rate for the seat you are allocated.
Absolutely without question. Away fans are not allowed in the home ends so they should be given the opportunity of fair pricing.
Home fans should have advantage
Because away fans like us put a lot of time and money into travelling the country. Especially for Bees fans this season, and hopefully next, we are living the dream of finally seeing our team play at big and famous stadiums – and we shouldn’t be priced out of the chance to do that. I will admit that if we got into the Premier League, I would pay whatever was charged for one season to see us play at these places but if we got there and stayed there I wouldn’t do it season after season
5. Do you think clubs should push for reciprocal pricing?
6. As an overall view, assuming you went to every home and away game in the Premier League, how much is palatable spend on TICKETS over a season (38 games)
Assuming every game was attended, 40% of fans are prepared to pay on average between £900 and £1260 a season (£23 to £33 a match), 24% between £720 and £900 (£19 to £23 a match) and 18% less than £19 a match. 12% prepared to pay between £1260 and £1440 (£33 to £38). Only 6% were prepared to pay over £38.
Average ticket cost of 30 to 35 pounds this would be a reasonable and fair cost
I would imagine this would cost around £1500 for tickets alone. That is what I would expect to pay and would be happy to pay if I could afford this at the time although when adding the cost of travel and other miscellaneous expense I don’t feel this is doable myself.
Prices are gonna be high but the chance of seeing Brentford is priceless
I personally could not afford to by I think £30 on average, if one commits to every game, is about the right level.
You can’t expect to pay too much, however very game in a Premier League season is a lot therefore I believe £900 to £1260 to be a fair price. We shouldn’t be too high on our prices as we will not be a top team in the Premier League (At least not for the 1st season)!!!
£900 to £1260 works out at what I said a season ticket should cost plus roughly £30 for every away game.
7. If Brentford played for a few seasons at Griffin Park then moved to a 20k plus stadium in the same division, what would you expect the prices to do?
Over 50% expected the price to stay the same on moving stadium whereas 37% expected the price to rise.
Rise. Inevitable costs of providing better more modern facilities to deliver a better match day experience.
Rise. To pay for it! We dont want our club going into administration
Stay the same. It will invite more people to come as it is great prices
Stay the same To reward fans who went to Griffin Park and to build the fanbase.
Rise. Cos in a few years we’ll have Lionel road and that will be better so we should pay more
Fall. Bigger capacity provides the club with an opportunity to get more fans in supporting the club. Also feel that the change of stadium should provide existing supporters (Many who in general are happy at Griffin Park) benefits of moving in a reduction in ticket price
8. Should increased TV money be used to keep ticket prices fair?
Only 8% of respondents felt that TV money should NOT be used to keep ticket prices fair. A resounding 88% felt that TV money should be used to make football affordable.
The fans are half of what makes up football and the clubs should be focused on giving back to communities. The top premiership teams have lost touch with locals and their ticket prices are proof of this. Some of the tops teams are proud to remain nestled within working class communities, yet they will demand £85 for a ticket.
the price of football is getting out of control. it needs to be kept at a reasonable price in order to allow all fans to chance to go see their team play. at this rate many fans wont be able to see their team play in the future because they wont be able to afford it.
It’s not all about the money it’s the fans who make the club
Yes but it’s just part of the overall equation. I would prefer that the TV money safeguarded the club/player investment etc. Ticket income would be one element of an enhanced set of revenue streams, but with bigger transfer fees, wage demands.
TV erodes the match day experience but needs supporters to keep the ‘product’ legitimate. As such loyalty should be rewarded.
Shouldn’t be up to clubs. Should be managed from the top. Money distributed evenly to all teams in a division and max ticket price fixed by the FA.
Broadcast money will help the club attract players and contrinbute to the big pot of gold, but keeping ticket prices lowish doesn’t mean a huge loss in income in a 12k stadium.
It’s about building the fanbase and creating awareness of fair pricing to encourage a higher average attendance in the new stadium. Then fair pricing will keep them there. QPR and Chelsea do not offer this, neither really did Fulham consistently.
In the premier league tv money far out weighs gate money. Germany uses this model and it works.
Billy Grant
@billythebee99
