NOT UP FOR THE CUP
Two out of five fans will cut back on Cup games this season, says Virgin Money research. Even Champions League clubs will suffer a backlash as fans cut spending. Virgin Money’s Football Fans’ Inflation Index running at 7.2 per cent in 2009
Nearly two out of five fans will cut back on their teams' Cup games this season with Champions League clubs the most likely to suffer, according to Virgin Money's authoritative Football Fans' Inflation Index.
Research for the index shows that 39 per cent of regular match goers are planning to cut back the number of Cup games including the FA Cup, Carling Cup and Europa League they go to this season with the percentage rising to 43 per cent for supporters of the Big Four in the Champions League.
Fans blame the rising cost of attending games as the recession and continuing squeeze on disposable incomes puts supporters off paying extra for Cup games.
Virgin Money's Football Fans' Inflation Index, which has tracked the cost of being a fan since January 2006, shows the growing pressure on fans' finances - costs for fans have risen 7.2 per cent since the start of the year and by 31.5 per cent compared to when the index launched in January 2006.
The research among more than 4,000 fans representing all 92 clubs in the Football League shows disillusion about Cup games is highest in the higher leagues with Champions League clubs the worst affected.
Around 41 per cent of fans of Premiership clubs not playing in Europe plan to cut back on Cup games, while 39 per cent of Europa League club fans will go to fewer games. In the Championship 39 per cent of fans are planning to save money by not going to Cup games.
The romance of the Cup survives just in Leagues 1 and 2 – just 30 per cent of League 1 fans will cut back and only 28 per cent of League 2 supporters. In the Premiership Burnley fans are the least likely to give up on Cup games with just 19 per cent planning to cut back.
Rail fares and petrol prices have increased significantly compared to January 2009, while costs in every category of the Virgin Money basket of goods have increased compared to when the Football Fans' Inflation Index launched.
Scott Mowbray, spokesman for Virgin Money, said: “It says something when fans reckon Champions League games are ones to avoid but the financial pressures on fans are mounting all the time. Cup games are seen as an easy way to cut back and that has long been the case in the FA and Carling Cups.
“The cost of going to a game is rising all the time with inflation so far this year at 7.2 per cent running way ahead of inflation in the economy as a whole. While the rest of the world cuts back football appears to just plough on regardless.”
Malcolm Clarke, Chairman of the Football Supporters' Federation, commented: “Football needs to cut its costs drastically to remain affordable and attractive during the recession. There have been some good examples. Clubs like Arsenal and Sunderland have slashed prices for Carling Cup games and been rewarded with good crowds. Shamefully clubs like Manchester United are continuing to push up prices at a time when many fans face pay cuts or freezes or, even worse, the dole.”
| PREMIERSHIP CLUB | PERCENTAGE CUTTING BACK ON CUP GAMES |
| Birmingham | 55% |
| Wolves | 54% |
| Aston Villa | 52% |
| Bolton | 50% |
| Liverpool | 50% |
| West Ham | 48% |
| Chelsea | 46% |
| Stoke City | 44% |
| Man Utd | 42% |
| Tottenham | 41% |
| Wigan | 40% |
| Portsmouth | 38% |
| Fulham | 38% |
| Arsenal | 37% |
| Blackburn | 36% |
| Hull | 35% |
| Man City | 34% |
| Sunderland | 34% |
| Everton | 33% |
| Burnley | 19% |
Virgin Money's Football Fans' Index shows that since January 2006 the cost of attending games has risen by 31.5 per cent. The index is aimed at helping supporters keep track of the rises and falls in the costs of supporting their team. The company identified the match day essentials fans buy and keeps tabs on increases and decreases.
At the launch of the index in January 2006, the match day basket of goods** cost £77.95. However the most recent analysis puts the cost at £102.53 – a rise of £24.58. Virgin Money's Football Fans' Index runs every three months and the firm's research team examines the cost of items such as a gallon of petrol, match tickets, food, alcohol, train tickets and replica shirts.
* Football Fans' Census interviewed a representative sample of 4,003 football fans between 5 and 13 October 2009.
** The basket of goods includes a gallon of petrol, a pint of lager, a bacon roll, a train fare, a match ticket, a replica shirt, pay-per-view cost and a match programme.
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