The rising cost of Premier League (EPL) tickets sparks plenty of debate amongst fans who feel clubs are taking advantage of their loyalty.
Recent research by The Athletic highlights that point to perfection, with 17 of the 20 EPL clubs increasing their prices for the 2023/24 season.
A deeper delve into ticket prices produces some staggering extremes demonstrating the financial gulf between the north and south of England.
The cheapest Premier League ticket for an adult is just £9 at Liverpool, although a limited number are available for sale and the view of the pitch is appalling.
By contrast, the most expensive ticket is at Chelsea, where it costs a whopping £240 to watch the game from the Westview section of Stamford Bridge.
When you consider this price does not include hospitality, you need to earn a sizeable annual salary to shell out for those seats.
While those figures represent the extremities of ticket prices in the Premier League, the average rate does not paint a pretty picture for fans.
Generally speaking, most fans will pay between £40-55 to watch a match – a significant outlay if you follow your team home and away.
Chelsea, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and West Ham United are responsible for the most expensive prices, with each club selling tickets that cost a three-figure sum.
By contrast, the top prices at Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool are significantly lower than their London rivals.
The cheapest highest-priced tickets can be found at Sheffield United, where it costs £46 for the best seats at Bramall Lane.
The cost of membership schemes – which give fans priority access to tickets – vary from £34 at Arsenal to £60 at Crystal Palace.
Bournemouth are an outlier on the membership front as they run a points-based rewards system rather than a formal paid scheme.
With the billions of pounds washing around the Premier League, most fans will undoubtedly feel aggrieved at what it costs to watch live games.
Previous calls for sensible ticket prices appear to have fallen on deaf ears, leaving supporters to keep digging deep to watch English top-flight matches.
