In 2024, the cost of living crisis is more relevant than ever. When it comes to football, we often see it used as an escape from people’s daily lives.
Football, in the men’s industry however has come under intense scrutiny recently for its ever rising ticket prices. For example, there has been a 6% rise in match tickets and season ticket pricing for Tottenham Hotspur’s men’s team, whereas Burnley, who were relegated to the Championship, are charging adults £55 for a ticket for their home game against Portsmouth.
In the women’s game however, ticket prices are usually cheaper, but things such as Arsenal’s Home Advantage Pack or Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge Match Pack could really make the difference for fans wanting to see their heroes live.
The Gunners Home Advantage packs for WSL games set a £14.50 price per game, with the whole pack in itself costing £100 for Tier 1, and £80 for Tier 2 at the Emirates. These prices are for the Home Advantage Pack+ – which gives fans priority access to away tickets too.
Even fans abroad feel the sting of the men’s v women’s ticket costs. Mackenzie Boe, of the GameTime Chatter Podcast told us
“Yes I would say that I definitely notice the economic difference between the teams at a club level in Australia.”
“It’s significantly less to go to a women’s A League Matches in Australia. Base price is $15 for Women and $60-80 base price for a Men’s game.”
“I’m in a position to go to both the men’s and women’s games, however I know for a lot of people going to women’s games are better for cost reasons.“
The extension of ticket prices has hit the two England international teams, too, the men’s side, and the Lionesses.
For their autumn international fixtures, the Lionesses introduced a new ‘ENGLAND HOME END’, behind one of the goals at Wembley Stadium, similar to what has been a feature for men’s fixtures for the last three or four seasons, where the England band will congregate, along with the loudest of supporters.
For this, it’s debut for the Lionesses, I managed to get myself two tickets, for £15 each, totally to a cost of £30 for me and a friend for the England v Germany fixture.
In contrast, for the men’s team friendly in September against Finland, tickets in the home end range from £25-£45 for the fixture, whilst this difference isn’t the biggest, It’s the wider ticket prices that raise alarm.
For Premium Tickets, the men’s side are charging £120, whereas you can pick up a Premium Ticket, £55, a staggering saving of £65 for access to the prawn sandwich part of Wembley Stadium, you’d be stupid not too!
Brighton and Hove Albion Her Game Too Ambassador, Alice Botting spoke to Beyond the Pitch about supporting both the men’s and women’s teams at Brighton and both sides at international level, and the costs of doing so.
“The obvious difference in price is the tickets (and ease to get them). For the 2024/25 season I have both a men’s and women’s season ticket.”
“The women’s season ticket cost £77 and this tends to include home cup games as well as WSL games. My men’s season ticket costs £600 (paid monthly) and covers just the Premier League games.”
“That’s obviously a massive difference and we have opted to go to more women’s home games this season rather than men’s away games partly because of the cost (3 x PL away tickets cost more than the WSL season ticket).”
“The cost differences also means I am more likely to take friends’ children to the women’s games rather than men’s – Where I can take them for £5 as an under 16. It’s therefore much more financially viable and subsequently ‘family’ friendly. It means for less than the price of a men’s ticket you can get the ticket, snacks, a programme etc.”
“On a country level, the cost again means I am far more likely to watch the Lionesses than the men. And it becomes something that is more financially obtainable to do as a group event as well.”
“I would go so far as to say I would rather spend the money on transport and a ticket to a women’s non-Wembley game than a men’s Wembley game. After the extortionate price for men’s (even friendly) tickets you then have ridiculous food and drink prices to contend with which you don’t have, in watching the Lionesses somewhere like Coventry.”
Whilst women’s football continues to grow across the globe, it’s only a matter of time before the probable ticket price increases, but for now, a massive saving can be had, if you were to opt to go to a women’s game.
Sources:
England Ticket Price information – https://www.wembleystadium.com/tickets
Arsenal Ticket Price Information – https://www.arsenal.com/home-advantage-packs
