Cost of living vs football

[EricSabin]

All we hear on the news these days is depressing reports about the price of everything increasing, will it affect your match going habits?

 

[Agombar stool]

First season in ages I haven't been to a home game. Dad has lost interest (Covid fears havent helped) and now I've moved where the railways are forgotten I really can't be arsed - plus I can watch all the games on ropey IPTV anyway. Been to a handful of away games which are fun and that's probably how it will be next season.

That said the lure of league 1 might be too much next season should it happen.

 

[kieran_vale]

I’m not sure that in itself will have a direct impact on me going or not. I don’t live in S-O-T anymore so limited on the amount I can go to for that reason. Still get to see them as all it takes is a VPN and iFollow or IPTV which Agombar mentions above.

The one that I could see having an impact is if train fares keep rising then attending some away games that I would normally look to go to could be less likely.

 

[Ninety Per Cent]

We’re leaving here soon but I’m starting to enjoy non League more(I’m heading towards my fifties and access to a pint in the stand is appealing) so will see if we get a change in ownership first.

 

[denzel ecfc]

I'll renew my season ticket and go to 4 or 5 away games like this season. I will go more if we go up, lots of grounds there i haven't been to before, potential games against Ipswich, Sunderland and Derby would be too good to miss

 

[BarraMatt]

We’re leaving here soon but I’m starting to enjoy non League more(I’m heading towards my fifties and access to a pint in the stand is appealing) so will see if we get a change in ownership first.

No drinking on the terraces in the NL, unless you think you'll be in the North soon...

 

[Spanishstag]

All we hear on the news these days is depressing reports about the price of everything increasing, will it affect your match going habits?

No don't get to games anyway ,watch them on I follow, but seriously prices in the UK are ridiculous ,that's why I left oh and the weather 22quid for 4th tier football is crazy, I've been out of it for 12 years,and I don't miss any of it ,

 

[denzel ecfc]

No don't get to games anyway ,watch them on I follow, but seriously prices in the UK are ridiculous ,that's why I left oh and the weather 22quid for 4th tier football is crazy, I've been out of it for 12 years,and I don't miss any of it ,

You can't beat being there. Love an away day win. Priceless

 

[Spanishstag]

You can't beat being there. Love an away day win. Priceless

You can't beat being there. Love an away day win. Priceless

Done it loved it but now it's chillin time

 

[JaredSUFC]

It is becoming more and more difficult to justify. I live 200 miles or so from Gander Green Lane, and I don’t drive so am reliant on public transport- train tickets are extortive and coaches take ages - for Saturdays game against Leyton Orient my coach leaves at before 6am and I arrive back after midnight. And whilst bills are increasing giving up the transport coach does look more attractive.

But on the other hand I love going to the match.

 

[Greenacres]

I will be renewing my season ticket next season, prices have been fixed regardless of what division we are in, plus I will go to my usual handful of away games...normally something like 3 or 4 per season. This year is is going to be three, Brentford and Orient, plus I already have a ticket for Swindon.

 

[denzel ecfc]

I will be renewing my season ticket next season, prices have been fixed regardless of what division we are in, plus I will go to my usual handful of away games...normally something like 3 or 4 per season. This year is is going to be three, Brentford and Orient, plus I already have a ticket for Swindon.

Will this be the last season at The New Lawn?

 

[Soz]

First season in ages I haven't been to a home game. Dad has lost interest (Covid fears havent helped) and now I've moved where the railways are forgotten I really can't be arsed - plus I can watch all the games on ropey IPTV anyway. Been to a handful of away games which are fun and that's probably how it will be next season.

That said the lure of league 1 might be too much next season should it happen.

I’m not sure that in itself will have a direct impact on me going or not. I don’t live in S-O-T anymore so limited on the amount I can go to for that reason. Still get to see them as all it takes is a VPN and iFollow or IPTV which Agombar mentions above.

The one that I could see having an impact is if train fares keep rising then attending some away games that I would normally look to go to could be less likely.

My IPTV is decent for everything but IPTV is shite, any recommendations via pm would be appreciated

As for the thread, I go all home and maybe 7-8 away games each season and reckon I'll stay the same.

 

[Essex2Wessex]

Probably going to go to more away matches next season (went to I think 4 this year), at least if we do go up.

Almost certainly at the expense of some home ones (have been to almost every Saturday game this season - Tuesday nights not quite feasible for me without a car). Whether I renew my season ticket or not thus hangs in the balance a bit....

denzel ecfc, no, not the last season at TNL, almost certainly at least one or two more

 

[Greenacres]

denzel ecfc Work has just started on the training pitches, and when I say just started I mean that there are archaeologists digging up Roman remains...hence the joke that the Roman era has just finished at Chelsea and begun at Forest Green.

 

[AdamStag]

It certainly costs a bit.

I have a season ticket but even then it’s on average £30 to get back, and that’s before beer food etc etc.

I’m ok as i get a decent amount of OT which clocks up at about £30 an hour, which funds football while the standard wage pays for everything else and savings.

If that dries up it would make it more challenging

 

[Soup Ladle]

Quite lucky I'm in the Middle East away from the crap back home and while I live very well here it won't last forever. I can comfortably afford the 150 quid annual ifollow subscription and the odd game if I go back no bother.

When i do go home and If i get work in the North East, i'll make most of the home games otherwise it'll be a real struggle and more a case of paying a tenner to pick and choose games on ifollow or localish aways if based outside the NE. I'd be back to barely earning enough for rent (or mortgage hopefully) and bills so football would have to take a back seat.

 

[Uncle Pastuzo]

I'm near the end of a two-season covid break but Aunt Lucy and I renewed STs for both, so including the end of 2019-20 that's just over 100 admissions between us we've paid for but not used. Less and less able to manage winter weather and travel so that will probably be it.

Well able to afford cost of living rises but I think they will hit clubs' revenue like an express train.

 

[SVH]

People will need to cut their cloth accordingly but I'll still renew my season ticket. Ipswich charged us £27 on Saturday but as others have said, those away days are priceless!

I've been to six away days this season and I've seen us win three of those. Pompey, Newcastle and Ipswich...all priceless wins.

 

[Chris FGR]

I can’t justify a season ticket, it’s gonna be hard enough paying the bills as it is. I will get to as many games as I can afford, but can’t commit to anything at this point. If things get much worse I’ll knock it on the head altogether, football has to come second if you’re not rich, too young to have a family or retired imo. Think you’ll gradually see less working class families going to games if the cost of living crisis carries on spiralling.

 

[Ninety Per Cent]

I fancied going to Peterborough tonight, but not at £28. Reasonable for Championship maybe but over what i'd pay for a standard league game.

 

[PuB]

If you shop wisely you can probably feed a family of four on £28 for a couple of days, and that’s instead of 1 person going to a football match. How ordinary families cope with ticket prices these days I’ve no idea. (No shame on those who are a bit better off and have that extra income though).

Gone are the days when I started going and it was just a cheap afternoon with your dad when mum wanted the kids out of her hair for a bit though.

 

[Stripes]

I had a season ticket for about four seasons running, but finally found the timing difficult and no longer affordable what with going on holiday around the same financial period. So now go more selectively, although still regularly. I only to to three or four away games a season. I'll go with my son, with fuel, tickets, and food it's always £100+ a go. Those are special occasions now, but probably more enjoyable as they are appreciated more.

Fair play to Sa!ford, the cheapest away tickets. We normally pay full adult prices, but there we both qualified at concession prices.

In terms of priorities, going to football is still one of my few vices, and been going to football league games regularly since I was eight. I don't t think life would be worth living without going to football. It is part of the British culture, and needs preserving at all costs, hopefully...

 

[BarraMatt]

I initially voted for more of the same, but my working pattern dictates that I can only make 50% of games a season, so it's not financially worthwhile to get a season ticket but I'll soon be starting a new job where I'll have a normal working week. In theory the football costs over the year should double so it'll probably be a case of waiting to see how it pans out.

 

[dedwardp]

I had a season ticket before covid, but I haven't been to a game since - not because I'd be wary or anything, just can't be bothered anymore. I've watched quite a lot on iFollow but I'm just completely out of the habit of going now. Think it would have been much easier to get going again at Layer Road, but these days there's very little fun to be had up at the stadium so it just feels like a chore. It's been nice to have some flexibility about the weekends too to do other things rather than immediately ruling out every other Saturday, particularly as I work very long hours and rarely feel like I get much spare time.

For us, ticket prices are perfectly reasonable if you either have a season ticket, buy the next bundle or if you can buy your ticket six weeks in advance... but if I haven't bothered to get a season ticket, I'm not picking specific games six weeks in advance and can't then be bothered to pay £24/26 on the day. Which is exactly the dilemma anyone who isn't a regular will face. No wonder the crowds are so poor, which is then also a catch 22 because the poor crowds contribute to it being such a boring experience and the cycle continues.

 

[Ninety Per Cent]

For us, ticket prices are perfectly reasonable if you either have a season ticket, buy the next bundle or if you can buy your ticket six weeks in advance... but if I haven't bothered to get a season ticket, I'm not picking specific games six weeks in advance and can't then be bothered to pay £24/26 on the day. Which is exactly the dilemma anyone who isn't a regular will face. No wonder the crowds are so poor, which is then also a catch 22 because the poor crowds contribute to it being such a boring experience and the cycle continues.

Not the easiest ground to get to either when i was looking at going earlier in the season. You can drive to watch Col U, or jump on the train to any number of London teams and have a drink or two... Standard EFL malaise that they think people will turn up out of Loyalty, year after year...

 

[The Terminator]

I've been to every game this season home, away, league and cup - As long as I don't get covid again I'll get to every game in a season for the 9th time in the last 18 years. Had a season ticket now for 27 years in a row too, I'm one of the few Orient fans who lives within walking distance from the ground.

I prefer to go to away games by train, I book trains around 3 months in advance and am lucky enough to have a railcard with a mate whom I go with which reduces the cost. The average away game I'd say costs me around £75 currently - but this depends on distance. I usually take my own food too from home and I don't drink either, I go to the pub before games and maybe get some chips to eat if I am feeling I need more to eat, but after so many years you know how to manage money.

Several failed relationships which have produced no children means Saturdays at the football. There ain't much that I haven't seen or done down the years following my team.

Watching on a stream last year for someone like me was proper pony.

 

[Agombar stool]

Several failed relationships which have produced no children means Saturdays at the football. There ain't much that I haven't seen or done down the years following my team.

Must have been hellish seeing Orient fire blanks for much of this season!

 

[denzel ecfc]

I had a season ticket before covid, but I haven't been to a game since - not because I'd be wary or anything, just can't be bothered anymore. I've watched quite a lot on iFollow but I'm just completely out of the habit of going now. Think it would have been much easier to get going again at Layer Road, but these days there's very little fun to be had up at the stadium so it just feels like a chore. It's been nice to have some flexibility about the weekends too to do other things rather than immediately ruling out every other Saturday, particularly as I work very long hours and rarely feel like I get much spare time.

For us, ticket prices are perfectly reasonable if you either have a season ticket, buy the next bundle or if you can buy your ticket six weeks in advance... but if I haven't bothered to get a season ticket, I'm not picking specific games six weeks in advance and can't then be bothered to pay £24/26 on the day. Which is exactly the dilemma anyone who isn't a regular will face. No wonder the crowds are so poor, which is then also a catch 22 because the poor crowds contribute to it being such a boring experience and the cycle continues.

For some reason a link to the Colchester v Stevenage game popped up on my Facebook. Out of curiosity/ boredom I clicked on it.
I see that some seats are £30 and there is some nonsense about not bring able to choose your own seat, and to confirm your bubble before its allocated.

With all that faff going on I'm not surprised no one can be bothered

 

[dedwardp]

For some reason a link to the Colchester v Stevenage game popped up on my Facebook. Out of curiosity/ boredom I clicked on it.
I see that some seats are £30 and there is some nonsense about not bring able to choose your own seat, and to confirm your bubble before its allocated.

With all that faff going on I'm not surprised no one can be bothered

Yep, the prices change block by block. It goes up by £2 with each block as you move closer to the halfway line, getting up to £30 for the halfway line on a matchday (which is insane). Even if you buy a ticket for the very end block by the corner flag it is £24 on the day.

Admittedly it is empty enough that you could buy a ticket on the end and go and sit somewhere in the middle, but it only takes one steward to want to help you find your seat.

When you factor in the changes in price by block, and then also the numerous pricing bands in the weeks leading up to the game, it is impossible to ever tell someone how much it would cost them to go to the football as there's a million permutations. The club's argument is that the matchday price is the price, anything else is a discount - but clearly the public don't see it that way, as they argue they're being punished/ripped off on a matchday. I'm sure the public's perception is what matters the most.

If it was up to me there would be one advance price and one matchday price, probably a difference of £2. Maybe the sides could be an extra £2 than behind the goal, so perhaps £17/19 behind the goal and £20/22 for the side.