The true cost of supporting Chelsea

Putting the ‘cost’ of going out of the Champions League in the 93rd minute of the semi final second leg aside, being a Chelsea fan can be an expensive pursuit.

Chelsea’s opening game against Hull is only two weeks away – and we better get saving. Research from the Football Fans Census shows that matchday at Stamford Bridge is more expensive for fans of the West London club than for any other in the capital (and probably the country). Their fans survey revealed that the average home game costed each individual Chelsea fan a staggering £102 in 2008 – an amount comparing very unfavourably to our rivals (Arsenal - £92, Spurs - £84, West Ham - £81). When you consider that getting a quick pint before the game typically involves going to a bar on either the King’s Road or the Fulham Road however, it isn’t perhaps that surprising. A little different from the pubs near Plaistow tube…

It does seem preposterous that the average fine might spend £1,900 each season to watch their team play (assuming they only go to home league games of course) – but perhaps it’s better value for money than it looks.

Buying tickets clearly accounts for a large proportion of fans’ expenditure, and on that front Chelsea unfairly have a reputation for exorbitant prices. The cheapest season ticket, for a seat in the Matthew Harding stand – costs ‘just’ £635 for the 09/10 season, and prices have been frozen for the past four years. By comparison, to help shoulder the financial burden of the Emirates, Arsenal fans pay by far the most in the league for the pleasure of watching their team come fourth with their tickets ranging from £855 to £1,825 (kindly the Arsenal board don’t seem to have passed on this year’s VAT cut to their supporters either – how nice of them). A cheap seat at White Hart Lane will cost you pretty much the same as at Stamford Bridge, but those wanting to pay top dollar will shell out £1,640, some £500 more than at Chelsea.

All of those prices, of course, don’t compare well to those charged by most other clubs in the Premier League – and the bottom line is that, to the majority, such amounts take considerable chunks of monthly income. But if you compare the success that London’s biggest rivals have delivered (as opposed to entertainment on the field, which I’ll neatly sidestep), you’ll find that Chelsea offers the best value for money, charging £7.65 per point during 08/09, compared to £11.88 at Arsenal and £12.20 at Spurs.

And for that money you get to watch Lampard, Terry, Essien, Ballack, Drobga and Joe Cole play. Not too bad at all.   

The same Football Fans Census survey suggested that 5% of Chelsea supporters would not renew their season ticket because of the cost, and a further 20% would go to less games. Are ticket prices in football too high? Post a comment.

Comments

[chelsfan]

£100 a game? not sure i can believe it.

it does all add up though - ticket, tube fare, couple of pints before the game, programme, food afterwards...

I think the cost of tickets is a real concern though. If it got much more expensive I definitely wouldn't be ablet o go to so many games - league cup and FA cup games would be the first to go.

I guess though that if there are people out there that will pay more, clubs like chelsea will charge more

[CFC_KD]

This sounds like a high amount - hard to imagine how you could spend that much every game. I can see once or twice a year (when you buy a shirt or birthday presents for the kids), but all the time?