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Exorbitant Ticket Prices Fuels Arsenal’s Success

September 25th, 2007 By The Gaffer --> Comments

afc_mousemat Exorbitant Ticket Prices Fuels Arsenals Success
Britain and the United States do share a common language, but there are times when words don’t translate so well between both countries. Such is the case yesterday when Arsenal announced a record $400 million in turnover. That’s “turnover” meaning revenue, not number of jobs in and out of a football club.

Out of the $400 million in revenue, Arsenal announced that they achieved operating profits of over $100 million.

While the number is staggering — and Arsenal definitely patted themselves on the back, as well they should for managing the club in a very efficient manner — one group of people got left out of the picture. An enormous group, that is: the Arsenal supporters.

In the 17 page financial document from Arsenal Holdings which describes the earnings in the 2006/2007 season, the supporters are only thanked once in the very last paragraph of a letter from Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood.

Last season, Arsenal was the most expensive football ticket in the Premier League with a top price of $184 per ticket to watch the likes of Chelsea, Man United and others play at the Emirates Stadium.

In comparison, this year’s most expensive ticket at Arsenal (per today’s exchange rate) is $189. Despite the scandalously high ticket prices, season tickets to Arsenal are sold out and the waiting list comprises 40,000 people. This for a stadium that has a capacity of 60,000.

While Arsenal is to be applauded for the brand of attacking football they’d played this season and their business decisions off the pitch, I’d like to see more gratitude shown by the club in the press and on their website to the fans that paid had-earned money. After all, Arsenal brings in an average of more than $6 million per game and much of that is due to the supporters.

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Tags: Arsenal · match tickets · ticket prices

Viewing 22 Comments

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    you mention the maximum ticket price but those tickets are reserved for the ultra wealthy corporate seats for those wanting to woo their clients. I sit in an average seat, which costs about $75 per game. Given some of the ridiculous incomes of Londoners the price is a fair one, as proven by the 40,000 on the season ticket waiting list. furthermore, prices have been frozen for 3 consecutive years.
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    Arsenal supporters get what they pay for: excellent entertainment. And explain to me what in London is cheaper than Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester, etc. THen also explain what Arsenal tickets at the high end are comparable to in these stadiums. Then also explain the cost for corporate vs non-corporate seats. AFter you've done all that, then re-write your article. Did they train you to do reasearch in journalism school or to write and then think?
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    I so agree with the two previous posts. Also it's about time credit was given to the Arsenal board for getting us where we are today. A rich and vibrant club.
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    I'm just adding weight to the previous comments. If there was not a sense of "value-for-money" the stadium would not be full for every game.


    Tonight Arsenal will play their second string team in a bull-shit competition and there are no tickets to be had from any relable source.
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    Arsenal playing entertaining football whether they win, lose or draw makes me happy to pay top whack for a ticket.
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    In an open market the price will reflect a balance between supply and demand. The fact that demand geatly exceeds supply (as demonstrated by the long waiting list) shows that Arsenal are selling the tickets below true market value.
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    I've paid £38 ($76) a ticket to see the Fulham, Man City, Derby and shortly the Sunderland games.


    Given the prices I've paid to stand in the rain and watch Championship clubs, I think paying £38 a time to sit in a beautiful stadium to watch beautiful football is, if I'm honest, verging on what I would call 'a bargain'.
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    a team playing like Arsenal, a manager the calibre of Arsene Wenger, one of the world's great football venues . . . . . . . hmmmmm. Or save on the price of the ticket, sell your soul and go support someone else. I don't know any supporters of rival clubs who'd switch their allegiance but they'd all pay more to watch their team play like Arsenal. Oh, yes, and buy ANY ticket for the Emirates and you are guaranteed a comfortable view of the entire pitch - no restricted view nonsense. IMHO - no case to answer.
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    Half the income at the stadium comes from club level seats or executive boxes.


    The rest of the prices are around the average for London clubs.



    As others have said do your research.



    Also, worth noting that tonights game against Newcastle tickets are 10 and 20 pounds.
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    This almost sounds as if it is written by a bitter Tottenham fan. I think the fact that so many (Spurs ?) people seemed to 'gloat' in the immediate aftermath of the move, "it won't be filled", "it's a huge debt", "they are the next Leeds Utd", etc, etc, have now been forced to eat their words. The fan base is vibrant, young and stable. Just look at what happened in West London last week when Chelsea couldn't even get 25,000 for a Champions League game, and they even reduced the prices. Give credit where it is due, because that is what us real Arsenal fans are doing.
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    its a 17 page financial document with a piece by the chairman where he quiet rightly thanks the supporters last as he has to list everything done by the club and then acknowledge that wiith out us none of the obove is possible. Do you want notes all over the accounts saying Revenue (due to supporters) or are you just another sad bitter rival fan that predicted doom and gloom and are now looking quiet silly reallyrlqbaiy
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    Average and cheap tickets for The Grove are on a par or slightly more (ie $2-4) than equivalent tickets at Totnum, West Ham the same as chelski and yes more than man utd / liverpool. But everything in london is more expensive - its more reasonable to ask how do totnum and west ham justify the prioces they charge for the cr&p; they offer. Arsenal play the best football and amongst the most successful in London (Historically they are by far the most successful in london). The huge waiting lists have been noted by others I would also pint to the 20000 unsold seats at teh chelski rosenberg match and the empty seats for many of totnums uefa cup games last season including the last one v sevilla when tickets were available on the door#
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    Good feedback everyone. I'd like to note that while the most expensive seats at Arsenal matches are $189 for category A matches, the cheapest for the same category A matches is $92 - which is still overpriced, I feel.


    Keep on reading the EPL Talk Blog. In the next few days, I'll share how the ticket prices for the 07/08 season compares with other clubs.



    And no, I'm not a Spurs fan. I don't support any club in the Premier League and I'm a neutral fan.



    Cheers,

    The Gaffer
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    hahaha, Oh dear!


    And there's me chuffed that I've just secured tickets for Arsenal v Bolton.

    Was at the Arsenal v Sevilla game, full price, full stadium... combined cost of both teams - less than half the cost of the Chavski 1st team squad - they played to a half full stadium, booed their own team off the pitch and bought their tickets at reduced prices...



    Do you want a lemon to suck on, you can have one... I don't need em
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    wow, your blog is as stupefyingly boring and inane as your podcast. It's called SUPPLY and DEMAND, did you ever take a basic economics class? The Arsenal has a 40,000 strong wait list and one of the top three most supported clubs in the world (27 million worldwide fans, last I heard quoted)... it makes its home in the region of the greatest wealth in the entire UK... it plays the most beautiful football in the league... ergo, it can charge higher ticket prices. WHAT A SURPRISE! THE SHOCK, THE HORROR!! Not to mention the fact, as the other commenters have pointed out, that you're overstating the prices at any rate. CORPORATE SEATS COST... CORPORATE PRICES! OH, THE AGONY.
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    The $189 seats for category A matches are not corporate seats. They're seats in the centre upper part of the stadium.


    Scroll down to the bottom of here if you don't believe me.



    Yes, Arsenal plays an entertaining brand of football that is enjoyable to watch, but I still stand firm that the ticket prices are too expensive.



    Cheers,

    The Gaffer
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    You have no clue what you are talking about. The number of top end seats are very small, and also you are talking about seats for only 5 prem games in the season. Most of the time the seats are category B which are a damn site cheaper. The bulk of the tickets are sold between £32 and £46. Prices are the same as they were at Highbury and are comparable with other clubs in London. If Arsenal ticket prices are 'exorbitant' what do you think of Chelsea ticket prices which are comparable and all they do is try and hike 60 yard balls up to their striker? Arsenal fans get treated to a beautiful stadium and beautiful football. Worth every penny everytime I go to the Emirates. You can not compare prices outside London, they will always be cheaper. If you want to compare prices, you have to take into account the difference in land prices inside and outside London and the average wages as well. Just posting monetary values of ticket prices is pointless and tells us nothing.
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    Gaffer you are both right and wrong. Its always futile to put the cost of English goods into dollars - its exaggerating prices in the home nation to do that.


    Example: A Compact Disc there costs 10 pounds which would often cost 10 dollars here - not 20 dollars.

    You also probably picked the wrong club to make an example of as Arsenal are without a doubt one of the 3 most entertaining clubs in Europe in terms of style and current results so people might be happy and willing to pay these very high prices for games. A gentleman above says its what the market bears and he is correct, Arsenal are technically undervaluing their tickets with such high demand clearly evident. Its just the state of the world and the Premiership. I went to Reading 4 years ago in the CHampionship and had to pay 20 quid to sit in the corner of the Madjeski - thats steep for non Prem I feel but thats the norm.



    However Gaffer I know what sentiment you are trying to bring here and I somewhat agree, its very expensive for a family of 4 to go to a game. Too expensive in my opinion and Arsenal even charge you to be a member (you need to be a member to have a prayer of getting a ticket) - so you have paid before you even purchase a ticket. They also charge one pound for a merchandise program in the Arsenal shop at the stadium - seriously folk do you want to pay a pound for the privilege of seeing Van Persie dressed up in an Arsenal sweater and then buy the sweater. Thats just poor in my opinion. Merchandise catalogues should be FREE - Arsenal can afford it.



    Dont get me wrong, I am a former Arsenal ballboy and love the club and would never support anyone else. The quality is awesome.



    I think you want to ask this question after the Wenger years Gaffer when the football is unlikely to be as high quality. Would Arsenal fans be willing to pay the same high prices to watch the cra* that Spurs put out? Its inevitable we will go thr