Even in an era of economic recovery for the Premier League, fans of British soccer are increasingly feeling the financial pinch.
Just days after Deloitte economic review found 10% revenue growth for the Premier League and the rest of Europe’s “Big Five” during the 2021-22 season, 17 of 20 Premier League clubs have raised ticket prices for the 2023-24 campaign, according to The Athletic — surpassing the 11 that did so last season.
Only Brentford, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur have frozen season-ticket prices. Fulham tops the list for the 2023-24 season with a peak season-ticket price of $3,821.
The price hikes arrive in the midst of conflicting U.K. economic trends. The country is grappling with a cost-of-living crisis with soaring energy costs and record inflation for food. At the same time, demand to see Premier League matches is surging, and 15 of the 20 clubs have waiting lists.
That hasn’t stopped fan outcry. Following Fulham’s announcement of planned price hikes ranging between 18% and 225% at the club’s Craven Cottage, the Fulham Supporters Trust blasted club owner Shad Khan, who also owns the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. The group is also operating what it calls the Campaign For Fair Pricing with the social media hashtag #AffordableFulham.
“While we understand the importance of ensuring the club’s long-term sustainability, we believe there are better ways to achieve this than the recent draconian ticket announcements,” the trust said.
