Arsenal buck the trend of lowering ticket prices by charging fans even more
Gunners hit fans with extra costs
Earlier this week, Portsmouth, Sunderland and Manchester City helped fans struggling in the current economic crisis by announcing lower prices for forthcoming games. Today, Newcastle followed suit by announcing plans to slash season ticket prices, which should help bolster faltering attendances.
At a time when clubs are showing sensitivity to the financial plight of their fans, Arsenal – whose cheapest season ticket is £925 – have decided to lay some extra charges on their fans.
The north London side justify their high prices by including FA Cup and European Cup games on their season tickets, and next week’s match with Roma will be the seventh home cup game of 2008/09 (excluding the League Cup, which isn’t included in the deal). Those who assumed all non-League Cup home cup games were covered by their season tickets, however, are in for a wallet-bashing shock.
A Spoiler reader had forwarded us an email that was circulated to members today, saying they will be automatically charged for the forthcoming FA Cup match with Burnley, and for any other applicable cup matches this season.
The club have actioned a clause buried deep in the terms and conditions, which says only seven Champions League and FA Cup games are covered on the season ticket. Seeing as Arsenal have played exactly seven home FA Cup and European Cup games for the past five seasons, this hidden charge has been met with surprise.
Season ticket holders have been told they must opt out if they do not wish to be charged. To make matters worse, they fail to mention how much tickets for the game actually cost, a detail they also omit from their official site.
Arsenal are perfectly within their rights to administer these charges, but in light of the economic downturn, the timing is pretty poor.
20 responses so far
Sue // February 18, 2009 at 6:09 pm
So to summarise
Arsenal are doing what the contract says they will do in this eventuality, what everyone wass told when they bought their season tkt, what they have done to my knowledge for at least 10 yrs and charging fans for the extra games. (I am a season tkt holder and was well aware of this clause so its hardly buried – people may have forgotten but lousy memory is no excuse). At least we get the option to opt out of the extra games (although I cant see anyone opting out of a home 1/4 or semi in Champs league)
Unlike Man Utd where they have to pay for ALL home games including the league cup
And letsface it Newcastle, Pompey, Sunderland, Citeh are not very good teams with poor results some of whom dont even fill their ground.
Most games the Groove is full so Arsenal should carry on. Of course I would be very happy if they didnt but I wont hold my breath
RP7 // February 18, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Before you post such inflamatory articles get your facts right. Every season ticket holder at Arsenal know that they are entitled to 19 PL games and 7 CL & FA Cup ties in a season. Thye also know that if an 8th or 9th cup tie is played they must pay for this when they renew their ticket the following season. Thay also know that if Arsenal do not play 7 cup ties THEY GET A REFUND ON THEIR NEXT SEASON’S RENEWAL. Thy also knwo that Carling Cup games do not count on the season ticket. If anybody claims they do not know this then they have not read the rules which Arsenal always send out with renewals. So very sorry NO STORY HERE MATE
RP7 // February 18, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Spot on Sue, I am also a season ticket holder and find this type of article bloody annoying
Ralph // February 18, 2009 at 6:22 pm
This really is a shamefully pathetic ‘article’ – and I’m using the word article quite incorrectly btw.
I’ve had a season ticket for over 30 years and this has been the process every single one of those years and it’s very well known amongst fans.
What’s different this year is that Arsenal have actually taken note of the current economic situation and not only reminded supporters of the situation, but also given them a way to avoid the extra cost.
Really you should be praising the club for taking the trouble to remind fans. Or maybe wondering why, every time the media ‘compare’ season ticket prices, they never factor in the extra 7 games Arsenal fans get.
You really should hang your head in shame for this piece of utter bum-water journalism.
Ralph // February 18, 2009 at 6:27 pm
As for this bit:
“To make matters worse, they fail to mention how much tickets for the game actually cost, a detail they also omit from their official site.”
Do you really think people sit in the same seat week after week without knowing how much it would cost match by match? Really? Apart from that if you actually take the trouble to look on the website for more than 2 seconds you’ll see all the set prices for around the ground.
Spud fan perchance?
pezzer // February 18, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Dear Jealous Ryan Bailey….
Why dont you ever get your facts correct!!!!
Stop trying to be Anti Arsenal and Grow Up!
A good Journalist just his research….you dont.
Keep trying!
BG // February 18, 2009 at 7:09 pm
You are a wanker mate!
We might have a season ticket costing £925 but that is for 26 games! No other club includes 7 cup credits in their season tickets! What they are doing is just what happens every season we have long successfull cup runs…
I suggest you shut up or go and support Pompey or Newcastle instead…
Arsehole
Simon Jarvis // February 18, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Another way of looking at this is that Arsenal are giving loyal season ticket holders a game ‘on tick’ until June. Which, personally, I’m quite happy with.
There aren’t many clubs that include seven cup games in the price of the season ticket and Arsenal would well within their rights to charge us full price right now for the Burnley game. But they haven’t and I think this a juvenile way of flinging mud in our direction.
PompeyRat // February 18, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Fair play to all you season ticket Gooners. Lots of good comments, except however, Sue..
“And letsface it Newcastle, Pompey, Sunderland, Citeh are not very good teams with poor results”
Why did you have to have a stupid dig at the prem teams who are making the price reductions.. ?
“Not very good”… You scraped past Pompey at the Emirates, got spanked by Citeh away and only a ridiculously late goal got you a draw at Sunderland. Other teams which I’m sure think are also “not very good” with “poor results” who’ve you’ve failed to beat this season in one game or another include Fulham, Hull, Yids, Boro and West Ham.
And as regards “poor results”, surely for Arsenal being 12 points off the leaders and 5 points (effectively 6 due to goal difference) off 4th at this stage of the season is a very, very poor result.
go away sue // February 18, 2009 at 8:30 pm
“So to summarise
Arsenal are doing what the contract says they will do in this eventuality, what everyone wass told when they bought their season tkt, blah blah” – north london dads will be taking their kids to spurs in the future…
chris // February 18, 2009 at 8:48 pm
This guy has a great future at the Sun or NOW.
Take a bit of prose from elsewhere, distort it and make a big headline. Job done.
Arsenal tickets are not cheap, but in recent years we have had pretty good value with the entertainment on offer. And a pint of lager is £3.25 most (not all) places in London. What is it in Manchester/Sunderland/Blackburn etc? I can remember when Chelsea were charging season ticket holders for all cup tickets as extras regardless of whether people wanted to attend. We’ve just had a lot of home games that’s all. And actually, we can opt out of this charge and if we wish and allow our seats to go on general sale if we wish. A first!
So what’s your problem Bailey you t*sser?
Not an Arsenal fan is one of them.
Raph88 // February 18, 2009 at 8:57 pm
well done ryan for improving your website stats and duping all these reactionary idiots to help increase your ad money.
go away sue // February 18, 2009 at 9:10 pm
hi chris
how much entertainment value did you eek out of your home games with Liverpool, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Bolton and West Ham in recent months. Arsenal have the most expensive seats in England and havent won anything for 4 years. Your board must love supporters like you
redMist // February 18, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Why should we have to pay for the FC Twente match… qualification shouldnt count
vivb // February 18, 2009 at 9:21 pm
I think people would more put off if the club reach the qf or sf of the CL and find the game classed as a Grade A fixture for which ticket prices are 50% higher.
But the club do offer an opt out and re-sell facility (10% admin charge) if season ticket holders want to sell their seat.
chris // February 18, 2009 at 9:36 pm
“go away Sue”
Read what I said – “in recent years we have had pretty good value with the entertainment on offer” Som pleas try to respond to the point I made instead of pathetic “na na na na nah”. Some poor performances this season by our standards you mention but at least we won most of them! We are talking about value for money here for season ticket holders who are committed members of their clubs. So who do you support? Care to tell us?
And it’s spelt “eke” by the way.
go away sue // February 18, 2009 at 9:55 pm
good point on ‘eke’. i apologise for a typo on a blog comments board I will take more care next time.
im not sure what point you were making, i just picked up on ‘entertainment value’. Anyway, what is your point? You say beer is £3.25 a pint in London… why? Maybe making the point that for one £50 ticket to arsenal you could buy 15 pints of lager? If so, i know what sounds like a better deal. I support charlton by the way but please dont take the piss
trevor // February 18, 2009 at 9:57 pm
who cares about arsenal season ticket holders. they are all yanks and swedes anyway.
SR // February 18, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Expect strong protestations from Arsene “The Game’s Dying” Wenger any minute now……..not.
Danny // March 6, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Latest news from 6th March 2009 Islington Tribune newspaper:
Arsenal Season Ticket Holders will be asked to renew their season tickets in April, 2 months earlier than usual and before the club know for sure whether or not they will be in the Champions League next season.
An Arsenal Spokesman told the Tribune, “We are yet to confirm a date but it will be in April. It’s true, they will not know about the Champions League qualification. But there are 47,000 on the waiting list so we are in a fortunate position.”
Paul Matz, chairman of the Arsenal Independent Supporters Association, said, “There is a lot of general pessimism around at the moment at the club. Then there is the financial climate. We will have to wait and see what kind of impact there is.”
Fans sitting in Club Level where seats cost up to £4,000 (they are coming up to the 3 year renewal period, I think), have been told they must renew their tickets even earlier, by the end of March, although they get longer to find the funds.
Mr Matz went on to say that Arsenal should demonstrate they understand the hardship some fans may be under and should value their loyality by thinking about letting some fans pay in installments. He went on to say there should not be one rule for Club Level and another for the rest.
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