The Cost Of Loving Tottenham

Beneath the dissection of every press conference, every tactical substitution and Gary Neville’s post match analysis, fans clamour to their keyboards to discuss the state of modern football on a weekly basis.

Whether it’s the corruption of FIFA, player’s wages or video technology, the game is very different to what it used to be. A reoccurring topic is always the price of watching your team play, with the general consensus being that ticket prices are reaching some extraordinarily high levels.

To combat this, the ‘Twenty Plenty’ campaign was started last year with the hope of reducing ticket prices for away games in the Premier League; fans from Spurs, Arsenal, United and Liverpool marched through Central London last year in protest against high ticket prices; we even had a lino tell a City player to go and applaud the away support at the Emirates because “they paid £62 to be here”.

Needless to say, fans of all clubs aren’t happy with the cost of going to watch a football match nowadays and it seems the bigger the club, the bigger the price tag, but are we at Spurs being ripped off the most?

How Much!?

The most expensive season ticket at Tottenham is just under £1900. That’s a hefty price tag, but it is Arsenal who take the unwanted accolade of most expensive season ticket with prices a little over £2000.

However, when you take into account that we get 2 free cup games included in our season ticket compared to their 7, our price per game works out to £90, theirs at £77.

With United, City and Liverpool averaging out to under £50 per game, our fans are the ones digging deepest into their pockets to have the privilege of watching us play on a weekly basis (although after last season I’m not sure privilege is the right word).

To top it off, our cheapest season ticket is the second most expensive in the league when compared to other clubs cheapest offerings.

Of course the reasons why we charge so much are relatively obvious, the club earn more money, but my concern lies mainly with the implications of charging the Tottenham faithful so much in a time were money is so tight.

Working Class Game

I pay about £850 for my season ticket, one of the cheapest available, and as a university graduate with many debts, I have to make certain sacrifices to afford to watch Spurs. I don’t mind though, I love Spurs. I love going to watch Spurs. If I had all the money in the world you’d still find me at White Hart Lane every other weekend.

Unfortunately, several people can no longer attend many home games simply because they’ve been priced out of it. They might not be any less of a fan than me or anybody else, they simply can’t afford to go.

We’re in a dangerous situation where clubs seemingly have free rein over the supporters. Whatever the price, there is always another customer willing to take the place of those who can no longer afford it – our large waiting list is proof of this.

Worryingly, the steady rise in ticket prices has slowly but surely had its effect filter through to the terraces…

Atmosphere

I remember my first game well, we drew 1-1 with Derby County about a decade and a half ago. We conceded in the 30th minute or so and I burst into tears (I was 8 or 9 at the time). We equalised thanks to Tim Sherwood and the smile returned to my face. I could not have been happier.

That memory will stay with me forever, and so will the atmosphere that day. Don’t get me wrong, the roof wasn’t about to come off WHL (it was Derby County after all), but I remember the chorus of songs emerging from the crowd and that’s something that you just don’t get watching on the TV- it’s something I feel every fan deserves to experience.

Growing up having to suffer the taunts of Arsenal and Chelsea supporters, my one calling card was atmosphere. It didn’t matter if it was the North London Derby or if Bolton Wanderers came to town, you were always guaranteed good atmosphere at the Lane, easily one of the best in the whole country.

Not any more however. There are of course many reasons for this, but one of them is undoubtedly the introduction of a new type of supporter. Last season I saw people at the Lane playing Candy Crush; not at half time, not before the game, but during the play.

Whilst I was biting my nails, desperate for a goal, the man sat in front of me was more concerned about how he was going to get the cherry to the bottom of the level with only 3 moves left.

It appears that this new breed of football ‘fan’ has begun to enter many a football stadium and simply not contribute to the atmosphere at home games.

Of course I can’t quantify this; I don’t know how many die hard Spurs fans have been priced out of attending games and how many of the new lifeless, disinterested supporter exist, but there has been enough to negatively affect the atmosphere in a significant way, I can say that much.

The prices have also led to a sense of entitlement amongst the ever present Spurs fans. I’d never heard a ‘I’m paying £75 to watch this rubbish’ cry before the last season or so; with high prices comes high expectations it seems.

The Modern Game

Is there much anyone can do? As long as the waiting list remains as long as it does then not really, nothing of any great significance anyway. If anything, the introduction of a new stadium will see prices shoot up even higher and the introduction of StubHub only makes things worse.

Football was always billed as a game for the working class. Something that everyone could attend and enjoy. Whether you spent your days behind a till, laying bricks or performing surgery, football was accessible to those who loved it.

Nowadays, year by year and season upon season, the working man’s game only continues to neglect the working man, and we at Spurs are leading the way.

 

Totally agree. Not one prem club gives a **** about the working class supporter anymore just so long as they can fill the stadium and make as much money off them as they can get. The exception to the rule is probably Stoke who average about 25,000 per home game but do not rip the supporters off . Stoke play a below average entertaining game of football but the support is fantastic and are really noisy on matchday giving a fantastic atmosphere.

 

I'm an American and I have to say that I cannot how cheap English football ticket prices are. In the US you have to deal with waiting lists and if you do get the call you pay a seat license fee which could be thousand if not tens of thousands of dollars. Once you pay that you get to pay for you tickets which are again over $10k in most markets. I wish I lived in England.

 

I've been a spurs supporter since I was 12 (1968) because my dad was. I've seen Tottenham 'live' literally only 2 or 3 times, one of those a friendly in Holland. The last time I saw them was the '91 FA Cup Final ( only because my then boss got me tickets and my dad paid the train fare. Have NEVER been to WHL ! I just cannot afford to go to any game or travel costs even though I work full time. A season ticket is a dream ! Incidently, An articlein today's paper covered this topic and quoted the season ticket price for Bayern Munich! How much?? Equiv of £ 114 !! for a SEASON ticket! A day return flight mancr to Germany is cheaper than one spurs ticket and train fare. Maybe I should go support the Bundesliega champs simply because its affordable.

 

But that's the exact point. Ever been to an American Football game and heard an organized chant from the crowd? Just doesn't happen. When you fill a stadium with people who shelled out that kind of cash for seats, you completely change the atmosphere. If that's the way the BPL wants to go, all they have to do is keep raising prices.

 

If you want to pay silly money to watch Spurs or anybody thats your choice,but if you keep paying, the prices are only going to get sillier.I am a life long Spurs supporter but I make do with MoD,the odd come play a pub team from god knows where televised Europa league games and odd other bits and bobs.After the last couple of seasons since Harry's blitzkrieg seasons you aint missing much.Will Poncho improve things? I have my hopes but I also have my doubts.COYS

 

There is no need for clubs in the Premiership to charge the prices they do. The money they get from television alone these days means they should be reducing prices, not increasing them.
The trouble is that as long as enough people pay the price, the prices will go up and up. And then you have clubs like Spurs who endorse the Stub Hub which is simply a slap in the face for fans who simply cannot afford to see the teams they love.
What with merchandise, £60 for a poor quality shirt, food and drink, premier league clubs are taking the you know what. I will never stop supporting my team, but sadly nowadays, I can only afford to do it from a long way away, whilst the prawn munchers take our seats and reduce the atmosphere to a mere clap of hands.

 

I mentioned in an article the other day that as a kid in the seventies I could go to WHL, walk to save bus fare, and get in for just 35p and then 15p for a programme or a hot dog. I dont think many kids today get to WHL on thier pocket money. I go and see the Spurs whenever im in the UK which is not very often so im used to seeing massive changes in ticket prices as well as the atmosphere, the atmosphere I remember from the 70s and 80s was pure magic from beggining to end.

 

The reason the lane is not booming much anymore is because the people who can afford the prices of the games are the business men who don't even support spurs but still go to the game make the tickets £20-£40 watch the atmosphere of the lane boom i was in a pub for a spurs game the way we was singing was like we was at the lane the passionate spurs fans are watching at home cause of silly prices £58 for QPR that's daylight robbery

 

Went spurs a lot in the redknapp days and before, only 18 but always hated a quiet atmosphere. Last season only ever went to away games because for the same price as a home game, if not cheaper, you got the more passionate fans travelling away too, meaning better atmosphere. It's what we resorted too as my dad is paying £150 for a game due to three of us going. It's ridiculous.

 

Female, 52yrs with the spurs cockerel tattooed on arm, that's passion for a club since birth, can't afford to go to many games but as suggested noticed a difference in atmosphere. Ledley king testimonial was a good example of days gone by, true fans filling the stadium to capacity and singing their hearts out, not only for the love of king, but the white collar workers were not interested in this game, the true fans were and could afford the tickets.COYS

 

Excellent point regarding the Ledders testimonial. I saw the highlights and you could hear the atmosphere was just spine tingling. Singing throughout, getting behind all of the players. Okay, so it was a testimonial, but can you just imagine that atmosphere at the Lane every week? I don't think many teams would want to play against is with that support!!!
The club can do something about it but choose not to. Our chairman often states that we are the lifeblood of the club, but maybe he could try treating us as such and then the true supporters can start going again at a reasonable price and more importantly, a justifiable price?!

 

It is definitely a cultural difference. In Europe the singing might have to do with religion. After the Roman Catholic Church was formed there were what are called a "Mass" which is a 6 segment musical recitation of Latin liturgy sometimes in call and answer form in which some of it is still familiar within the services of today. The Mass, or Ordinary, often lasted up to 3 to 4 hours and the first segment was introduced in the 7th century with pieces being added until the last section was added at the Millennium I believe. It was an evolution involving some of the world's most famous composers of classical music. This means that the majority of the population in Europe not only knew Latin, but also memorized signing these musical passages. This was passed on down through the generations as the populace grew until attention spans became shorter. Eventually after hundreds of years, the Mass, was scrapped in favor of shorter services so parishioners could go back to their toiling. And so it has remained.

I believe this cultural history be a direct reason as to why in Europe the history of the game involves signing in unison much like a call and response. Calling out to the team in hopes they respond with great and invigorated play. All around the world the beautiful game is often referred to as a religion as divine play is sometimes witnessed. The passion and fervor of the supporters 10's of thousands at once singing the club anthem can be a spiritual revelation.

In the U.S. we had a different history. While there were Masses for a couple hundred years...there were also different religions and the musicians were not as plentiful to cause further problems. Religions at that time were also focused more on acquiring church goers. While we have university football games and call football soccer...we do have some games that attract in excess of 100,000 fans in the stadium. It is in the collegiate atmosphere that you will find the singing in sport. Usually once at the beginning and then again at the end. There are some universities where the fans will sign the fight song more than a few times during the game. Most of the music that you hear at the game would be at halftime. This is when the 100+ members of the marching band comes out to entertain the fans. The sports band will generally play throughout the game because our football is an interrupted game. There are lots of breaks in the action. Singing in American culture is more about being entertained by someone with the better talent as opposed to singing for the fun and feeling it gives to people when done together.

That's my hypothesis on why supporters sing and fans listen. Hope it wasn't a boring waste.

COYS!!!

 

Im not sure but some of the songs I remember didnt sound very catholic to me but it was a lot of fun

 

I'm a spurs fan from up in Blackburn and find not only are the prices ridiculous but also difficult to
come by due to the size of stadium. I generally stick to games up north where the tickets are cheaper and the away support is fantastic. Hopefully when the new stadium comes supply will out do demand and the prices and availability will be lowered... Prob not tho

 

Ok, so I'm a school kid and I appreciate my opinion might not be viewed as important. But I live out of London, near Norwich. And everyone around me is rich, half of my friends have season tickets for their chosen clubs. Me? My parents work in public services so naturally there's not as much money. It's heartbreaking not to be able to experience what my dad, grandad and great grandad experienced because the board want more money. One of the best experiences I ever had was having a ticket near the 1882 at WHL at an u21 game - spine tingling experience. There was a better atmosphere there than at many other situations. We do well to get one game a season in, and even then it's never a league game - a Europa league one, like the Limassol home game in a week I'm going to (v. Excited).
I just wish it was more affordable, football might be owned by 20 rich men and unfortunately at the end of the day it is a business - but businesses don't rip their customers off. Needless to say, I'd rather see one game at WHL a year than have a season ticket at Arsenal. Christ.
As ever, COYS