The Virgin Money Football Fans’ Inflation Index shows that the cost of going to a match for an individual has risen to £89.53, a five per cent year-on-year increase on a year ago. The cost of attending games has gone up by 14 per cent since the index was launched in 2006. However, the basket of goods reached its peak last October when it was as high as £106.21, reflecting petrol prices among other factors. One response from fans is that one in four of them will not buy their team’s new kit next season.
The Virgin Money Football Fans’ Inflation Index shows that the cost of going to a match for an individual has risen to £89.53, a five per cent year-on-year increase on a year ago. The cost of attending games has gone up by 14 per cent since the index was launched in 2006. However, the basket of goods reached its peak last October when it was as high as £106.21, reflecting petrol prices among other factors. One response from fans is that one in four of them will not buy their team’s new kit next season. Fans of Chelsea are most likely to stop buying them at 35 per cent, followed by 33 per cent of Newcastle and West Ham fans. Replica shirts cost an average £27.50, but are up to £40 for top sides. Fans also supported a wage cut for players, not in the form of a self inflicted wage cut, but a league-wide cap for all footballers, supported by 41 pr cent of those polled. Only 20 per cent said that footballers should be free to earn as much as they can. Of course, these are hypothetical questions and fans might feel differently if a wage cap stopped them securing a foreign player who could strengthen their team.