The cost of supporting a Premier League club has risen sharply in recent years, with fans now forking out hundreds, even thousands, of pounds each season to cheer on their teams. A recent study by Betsson has revealed just how much loyal supporters are spending, highlighting Newcastle United as the most expensive club to support in the league.
|
# |
Club Name |
Yearly cost of being a Super Fan |
Average Annual Net Salary of City (After Tax) £ |
Percentage of Annual Salary |
Estimated hours needed to work to afford the yearly cost |
|
1 |
Bournemouth |
£6,704.94 |
£24,544.80 |
27% |
456 |
|
2 |
Newcastle Utd |
£7,455.35 |
£31,126.08 |
24% |
410 |
|
3= |
Ipswich Town |
£4,706.93 |
£21,087.00 |
22% |
389 |
|
3= |
Wolves |
£5,309.88 |
£24,300.00 |
22% |
389 |
|
5 |
Liverpool |
£5,830.06 |
£26,834.76 |
22% |
375 |
|
6 |
Everton |
£5,623.45 |
£26,834.76 |
21% |
362 |
|
7 |
Leicester City |
£4,410.09 |
£21,544.80 |
20% |
348 |
|
8 |
Manchester City |
£6,037.24 |
£30,397.80 |
20% |
338 |
|
9 |
Manchester Utd |
£6,005.07 |
£30,397.80 |
20% |
331 |
|
10 |
Aston Villa |
£5,228.32 |
£28,781.04 |
18% |
314 |
|
11 |
Southampton |
£5,668.44 |
£35,378.04 |
16% |
276 |
|
12 |
Brighton |
£5,021.59 |
£30,892.32 |
16% |
269 |
|
13 |
Fulham |
£5,283.09 |
£39,030.96 |
14% |
243 |
|
14 |
Nottingham Forest |
£4,312.91 |
£30,127.44 |
14% |
239 |
|
15 |
Tottenham |
£5,016.99 |
£39,030.96 |
13% |
227 |
|
16 |
Arsenal |
£5,003.94 |
£39,030.96 |
13% |
225 |
|
17 |
Chelsea |
£4,338.47 |
£39,030.96 |
11% |
199 |
|
18 |
West Ham |
£4,473.15 |
£39,030.96 |
11% |
197 |
|
19= |
Brentford |
£4,128.53 |
£39,030.96 |
11% |
186 |
|
19= |
Crystal Palace |
£4,157.96 |
£39,030.96 |
11% |
186 |
Newcastle United: The Costliest Club to Follow
According to the study, Newcastle United fans face the highest annual costs, spending a staggering £7,455.35 a year on tickets, travel, and merchandise. This hefty sum is largely due to the club’s northern location, which results in high travel expenses for away games. The average away game travel cost alone for Newcastle fans is £5,440, which is the most expensive of any Premier League team.
Bournemouth Comes Close Behind
In second place is AFC Bournemouth, with fans shelling out £6,704.94 annually. The Cherries’ supporters face significant travel expenses, with an average cost of £4,734 for away games. Additionally, Bournemouth fans spend the most on merchandise, averaging £61.94 each year.
Affordable Clubs: Crystal Palace and Brentford Lead the Way
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Brentford and Crystal Palace are the most affordable Premier League clubs to support, with annual costs totaling just £4,128.53 and £4,157.96, respectively. Fans of these clubs benefit from lower travel expenses due to their central London location, which means less distance to travel for away games. In addition, their home shirts are the cheapest in the league, priced at just £60.
Merchandise and Ticket Prices Add Up
The costs go beyond just tickets and travel. For example, Fulham tops the list for the most expensive season ticket, priced at £1,869.50, while Manchester United charges the highest for a home shirt at £110. Manchester United fans also face some of the highest overall costs, spending £6,005.07 annually on average.
Work Hours to Afford Fandom: The Strain on Fans
The financial burden of being a superfan varies based on location and income levels. Fans in cities with higher average wages, like London, tend to pay a lower percentage of their salary to support their club. For example, London-based fans of Tottenham, Arsenal, and Chelsea spend just 11-13% of their income on football-related expenses.
However, fans of clubs in areas with lower average incomes face a steeper challenge. Bournemouth fans, for instance, would need to work 456 hours (approximately 19 full days) to afford the annual cost of supporting their team, while Newcastle supporters would need to work 410 hours (around 17 days).
Rising Costs Spark Protests
The study has shed light on the rising costs that many fans are struggling to keep up with. In fact, earlier this year, supporters gathered under the #StopExploitingLoyalty campaign to protest the increasing financial strain on dedicated fans.
The findings emphasize the stark contrast between clubs, with some fans spending a substantial portion of their salary to remain loyal, while others enjoy more affordable options. As football becomes an increasingly commercialized industry, many supporters are left questioning whether the sport’s steep financial costs are putting loyalty to the test.
