Member Article

The price of football: Is it worth it?

I have to start this article by saying that I enjoy going to football matches and it is something I have done for many years now. But recently I have become more acutely aware of the price these events cost and I am beginning to question the entertainment on offer for the prices paid. I regularly attend football matches at St James Park and support my team Newcastle United, now some people will tell you that Newcastle United is a historic club with a proud tradition of entertaining football harking back to the days of “The Entertainers” under Kevin Keegan. In more recent years this brand of entertaining attractive football has waned much to the annoyance of the supporters.

Enter Mike Ashley, owner of the Sports Direct chain. Ashley increased his influence in Newcastle United Football Club by increasing his stake to 92.3% in July 2007. Sam Allardyce, the mananger at the time, lasted until January 2008 under Ashley. One of the reasons cited for Allardyce’s untimely departure was “perceived tactical negativity” i.e. the unattractive playing style which had become synonymous with Allardyce from his days at Bolton. It would seem that entertaining football was to be one of the key offerings of the Ashley regime. So in a quite breathtaking move, Ashley re-appointed club legend Kevin Keegan with the remit of attacking football. This move spectacularly failed as Keegan had no control over transfers and had to answer Director of Football Dennis Wise. Keegan left under a cloud in September 2008. Subsequent managers came and went (Chris Hughton, Joe Kinnear, Alan Shearer and Alan Pardew) with Newcastle being relegated, promoted, managing to achieve European qualification and fighting to avoid relegation. All this background information brings me to the main issue: the entertainment value.

Football is not cheap. That is a fairly simplistic statement to make. Footballers are paid astronomical wages, transfer fees are vast and the television revenue is extremely high for clubs in the top-tier of English football. But what about the entertainment value of it? Well for fans who went to St James’ Park for the game against West Ham on the 24th August, Newcastle’s first home game of the season, eagerly awaiting their idols entertain them. They were sorely disappointed. A drab 0-0 draw, where Newcastle didn’t register a shot on target during the game. It could be argued Ashley has failed with his idea of attractive and entertaining football at St James’ Park. Prices for an adult ranged from £27 to £52, which on reflection seems acceptable and judging by attendances at St James’ Park, the punters are clearly willing to pay. However, these prices do not factor extras such as refreshments, transport and parking costs. A day out at the football is becoming increasingly expensive.

When many people have to be more prudent with their finances, will they be prepared to pay such costs for spectacles which are not as entertaining as they should be? Will they vote with their feet and seek better value for money?

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Robert Macdonald .