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Poll reveals that PL is losing younger fans
England - 22 October, 2007
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A supporters' group has sounded the alarm that the English Premier League risks alienating its younger fans as ticket prices soar.
A recent poll on swapitshop.com of 1,200 under-17s showed that more than 25 percent have never taken in a Premier League match, citing cost as the biggest factor.
"Ticket prices are simply too high for youngsters to pay," said Steve Powell, the director of policy and campaigns at the Football Supporters' Federation, in a news release. "The Premier League's own research suggests less than 10 percent of supporters regularly attending Premiership games are under the age of 23.
"Unless prices are reduced radically, football will find it has lost a whole generation of fans. After all, if people don't get a taste for attending live football in their youth, they're hardly likely to do so in their 30s."
The real risk seems to be that the league is breeding stay-at-home fans, those who cannot afford the matches in person and stay at home and take in play on the television. The poll cited 43 percent of thise under 17 as saying they had never seen their favourite team play live. More than half of those said ticket price kept them from the contests.
Many younger fans cited that, with the record-setting TV revenue, the Premier League clubs should be able to knock down ticket prices a few pounds to help spark attendance.
"Although the pricing of tickets is down to each club, we work very hard with all clubs to make sure they remain affordable," said a league spokesman. "It is particularly important that young people can get to see matches live."
A recent poll on swapitshop.com of 1,200 under-17s showed that more than 25 percent have never taken in a Premier League match, citing cost as the biggest factor.
"Ticket prices are simply too high for youngsters to pay," said Steve Powell, the director of policy and campaigns at the Football Supporters' Federation, in a news release. "The Premier League's own research suggests less than 10 percent of supporters regularly attending Premiership games are under the age of 23.
"Unless prices are reduced radically, football will find it has lost a whole generation of fans. After all, if people don't get a taste for attending live football in their youth, they're hardly likely to do so in their 30s."
The real risk seems to be that the league is breeding stay-at-home fans, those who cannot afford the matches in person and stay at home and take in play on the television. The poll cited 43 percent of thise under 17 as saying they had never seen their favourite team play live. More than half of those said ticket price kept them from the contests.
Many younger fans cited that, with the record-setting TV revenue, the Premier League clubs should be able to knock down ticket prices a few pounds to help spark attendance.
"Although the pricing of tickets is down to each club, we work very hard with all clubs to make sure they remain affordable," said a league spokesman. "It is particularly important that young people can get to see matches live."
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