The 'OUTRAGEOUS' cost of tickets pricing fans out of watching Aston Villa

During a recent Q&A podcast, Dan Rolinson and John Townley were asked about Aston Villa's matchday ticket prices, with some fans feeling they're now being 'priced out' of supporting their club in the flesh.
That topic went on for fifteen minutes so we wanted to give it its own spot on the channel as we believe it's important to highlight these fan issues.
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[@elliottstevens3730]

Even if you can afford it, £70+ to watch a game of football, just isn’t worth it imo

[@SuperGamingBeast1]

YES! You leave and think…really?!

[@kjwilson862]

Been going since 1970, I find it heartbreaking that fans been totally priced out, and I’m a season ticket holder in lower Holte End, I have absolutely no chance getting my grandson a season ticket like me n my son have. 😖😩

[@uvk99]

It will all implode eventually, for all clubs. Players have to be realistic when negotiating wages. I'm 80 and used to go for the odd game in recent years, but can't afford it. I used to be a season ticket holder in the 70s and 80s. Started watching Villa in the 50s, has a kid.

[@andymac3391]

Bigger argument to be had here about political decisions austerity wage stagnation inflation etc the ticket prices are a manifestation of this

[@clicknafea]

Football is eating its own tail.

[@sheriffkimbo]

I had to leave my job due to ill health earlier this year, so I will not even bother renewing my membership. The reduced income means it's unlikely I'll be going to any games. It breaks my heart but I would rather have heating, food etc!

[@marineboy1964]

Supply and demand . Villa park is the smallest ground in the top of the premier and that's part of the problem , all villa fans want to see Watkins and Martinez in a villa shirt and have Mr Emery as manager and if you do there's a price to pay. Bring on the chance of playing Real Madrid, Barcelona , PSG or Bayern Munich we are now eating at the top table and I am not sure what some people want, Steve Bruce ,Alex Mcleish, Remi Garde back in charge and playing rotherham (with respect) for cheaper tickets? And villa have just agreed signed 22 year old Onana from Everton for £50 million

[@REALLYRANDOMREVIEW5]

YES ! Facts My Boy !

[@VillanFGer86]

It is the smallest ground of any big club because Chris Heck Cancelled our redevelopment and podcasters like Birmingham Mail asked no critical questions as to why this bizarre and unambitious decision was taken, letting Heck off Scott free.

[@marineboy1964]

​@@VillanFGer86 Maybe there something bigger going on in the background and villa just haven't announced yet

[@KyronBuggy-mb7og]

So true mate .

[@colinwilson2604]

All this comes down to players wages. The basic law of supply and demand. It would make the Premier League less popular internationally but taxation of players wages needs to be looked at, the tax going back into supporters pockets via lower prices and better facilities. Only by controlling player wages can we stop this spiral.

[@MarkDavis-pp5ux]

I'm sure players wages have increased higher than inflation. Also why should some fans get to see every single game etc and if they want to do that they are choosing to do that. I've been Villa for over forty years , the two seasons i went to the most games were both during periods in the lower division because it was easier to get tickets . I even remember just paying at the gate etc. I live in London but from Blackpool, taking my boys to see Villa for just one game is a £300+ day out with everything taken into account, 5/6 visits then costs fortunes BUT i and my two boys love it. This isn't coming from someone with money either, i lost everything i owned during COVID. Saying the man on the street can't afford it is wrong, most tradesman earn £150/200 a day etc , its a choice. You can go out on a Saturday and send x amount on 'everything' that comes with a night out or go and watch the Villa. The local fans dont have the same transport costs, have to take time off work to travel to games at VP etc and watching Villa at the moment is a privilege . When we're shit it's been 4 tickets in The North for £40, when we're great it costs so much more , thats life. I don't begrudge a penny i have ever spent on Villa because i chose to go.

[@villaninwyrley]

Football is no longer the game of the working class. Fans who have been for years are being priced out of going to see the club that we all love and will be replaced by the prawn sandwich brigade who have no affiliation to the club. Heck needs to realise we aren’t a London club and the wages paid to fans will not cover the cost when bills have to be paid .

[@andrewmoseley427]

AVFC is a commercial enterprise. Not a charity. Success leads to higher demand to see the team play which leads to higher ticket prices. As a Claret member I went to all but one of the home games in the 23/24 season. Especially enjoyed that great home PL winning run. Beating Manchester City & Arsenal at home in a week. Wonderful memories. However this season I’ll be more selective about how many games and which games I attend at Villa Park. Why? Prices. At the end of the day it’s all about choices. And I will choose not to go to so many home games next season. And please….we don’t need government intervention in football. Most governments don’t have the Midas touch. In fact quite the opposite. Thanks for the content!

[@Stevie-V]

My thoughts on this is fans have it in their own hands to force a rethink on prices! Just don't buy ANY MATCH DAY tickets No season tickets no matchday tickets. Clubs would suddenly find they would be playing effectivley behind closed doors with no match day revenue at all. No food, drink or merchandise! Perhaps then these CEO's etc. would be forced into a quick about turn!

[@SuperGamingBeast1]

Would it not kill them to save a few million on a potential transfer and give it back to those following via price stabilisation 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@stevevillabloke3449]

Pricing out normal fans. This isn't London. My son and I are members but I won't be able to afford as many as last season and cat B games only. Champions league rumoured prices!!! No chance. Such a shame. UTV

[@BTC2179]

Supply & demand of a product I’m afraid, if people are willing to pay then that’s the price.

[@raymondoakford8357]

More fool them!

[@peakyblinder777]

Bloody hell ! Back in the 80's as a kid remember goin to watch the villa for £2:50 paid at the turnstille + hot cup of Bovril 5p and if i was feelin flushed a minced beef and onion pie 25p . Match day Programme 30p . Good ole days 😂UTV 💜💙

[@lovebleeds8785]

That was me last season too, only missed 4 games in all competitions. I can see me having to miss more in the upcoming season due to increased prices which is frustrating to say the least....

[@theduftmeister]

No longer the working man's game. Excessive greed and money in the game, be it out of control player salaries, agent fees or money to other hangers-on. What other business spends about 90% of it's income on staff costs? Same problem with gigs and concerts nowadays. What was a £50 ticket a few years ago is now more like £300. Options are :- 1) suck it up and pay, 2) don't go and instead, pay sky, TNT, Amazon etc ever increasing annual fees to cover the ever increasing salaries, 3) watch via other illegal nefarious means.... The game is gone, it needs some sort of crash or other similar event to give it a bit of a reset......but I dont see that anytime soon...

[@kelvinhill]

I honestly think this coming season might be the last season I can afford to go on a regular basis. The tickets are comparable to a West end show.... which most go to on odd occasions not 19 times a year. Unfortunately very clubs will care what the background of their fans are... local or not.

[@milliefrankieshaw2009]

Pffft 😏 and here we were saying 20s plenty. My old man predicted this almost instantly. We had all these shiny new adverts, new and improved stadiums. The hype was massive but yet if you didn’t have sky…👎🏼 Since then, it’s been a little bit more each year taken from us, a little bit more we’ll have to pay out . It will happen as well, look at boxing! When British boxing is on a high, we have a x2 English boxing promoters (Queensbury vs matchroom) … held in the Middle East 😐 The people, teams, owners at the top don’t care if you can’t afford it !! They’ll take it somewhere where they can !! British boxing is all but gone and a lot of the fans don’t even realise it . We have to make sure the same isn’t about to happen to us although I worry the gears are already in motion

[@Paul-vl2wg]

Comes back to the argument that do we need a new stadium that holds 60k plus?

[@user-gt8wz4jd2o]

this was always going to happen fans up and down the country have had same issue ,wouldn't it be fantastic to pay 20 quid a game ! those games are long gone .I,d love to go I can't get in villa park so its a subscription with you know who and I enjoy the that way .

[@Clovemeister]

Prices have gone up because of stupidly thought out PSR. This is the downside of PSR. Clubs have to get money in from selling home grown players and loyal fans🤷‍♂️ If owners were allowed to put more money into their clubs (invest!) then I feel sure they would then be able to look after their fans - and maintain high attendances(!!) by keeping ticket prices at a more reasonable price. . My member son is on min wage, has learning difficulties and has to pay full adult price???!!! Even I at my discounted rate will have to forego the big matches. Fings ain’t wot they used to be!!! Yep blame PSR that the PL themselves voted for ….. UTV!!

[@cestmoi7829]

Sorry to say this but it’s only too expensive when the seats are empty - you want world class players who cost huge money and huge salaries; then their needs to be revenue; and tickets to games is revenue. How do the prices of villa tickets compare to other top 4 teams in the EPL? Also considering scarcity - hence the capacity of the stadiums.

[@nealsawyer]

Don't moan about a lack of atmosphere when you price out the working class.

[@chrisdoyle2365]

Whilst we all have super rich owners it’s not going to change, these people have money because they don’t give it away. As a disabled user I’ve been a regular attendee at Villa games since 1978. Recently over the last 10 years or more it has become virtually impossible. £30 taxi cost for my wheelchair plus entry, where does it stop, Superleague matches in Dubai Doha and the moon eventually, obviously a joke, so I suppose prices will match.

[@LteasAVFC]

Fans like myself who have been on the Season Ticket waiting list for 3 years, will never get a Season ticket now. 20+ thousand waiting list. Im having to pay for tickets on a weekly basis. Game by game

[@johnaston4959]

Villa Park has deteriorated over the last few years, it is now among the most uncomfortable in the Country and no way I am gonna pay such astronomical prices to be so uncomfortable plus a 210 mile round trip, no thanks, I'll watch em on MOTD

[@villainofthepiste8275]

No longer a working man’s game. Sad to see 😢

[@CarlHughes1982]

Apply a 1% discount for every year you’ve been a season ticket holder would reward those of us that sat through the dross for many years

[@reetpateet8656]

What do you expect? These poor footballers have very little to survive on! Running a Ferrari is expensive, mansions cost a lot to heat, and their holiday homes in Dubai are high maintenance! As for the cost of watches - it’s horrendous! I’d willingly pay £100 plus to watch these hard done by players, to keep them happy and not go under! 😉

[@chrisdoyle2365]

@@reetpateet8656 absolutely. Maybe we should pass a bucket around the Holte End when we play Arsenal , I think £28 each should be a good start rounds it all up nicely to the £100. Poor souls.

[@reetpateet8656]

@@chrisdoyle2365 love it! 👍

[@timroberts5783]

Claret & Blue is something gnu really value. Unfortunately on this one you are off the mark. It’s naive to think that government intervention should be welcomed. The government never creates just interferes and adds cost. Putting a cap stops the free market and we loose the competitive advantage and income to the premiership drops and so does the interest. Why have you not mention rd the cost of tickets at other clubs. Villa prices have been traditionally been lower than other clubs. Publish a list of other club prices. Finally, John this is not patronising but for your journalist future never place your faith in the government. I am a former season tickets holder who moved away from the Midlands due to employment. I am currently at 30,500 plus in the waiting list.

[@Tom.Jackson.]

Its like chips, new potatoes come in summer and the price goes up, but never down later, same with our tickets 😂😂😂 I will only afford so many as I have to pay for ticket for my carer son who looks after me, then grandson want to become a villan so paid for his membership and prob have to pay for his tickets, costly for me out of pension 🙄

[@marccleaver5928]

in fairness it’s the current climate the prices have gone up across the league as the big 6 have had prices like this for some time villa have to follow suit the big 6 match day revenue averages at £90m and villas was £16m prior to the conf league that’s a huge gap villa have to bridge in addition even wolves are increasing 14% whilst selling every decent player they get. hence villa have had to embrace hospitality chelsea charge £1000 per game to sit behind the dugout and have a 3 course meal

[@Chris_evans.]

As someone who is a member but only missed 2 games last season 1 though illness and 1 through being abroad this whole season ticket waiting list thing is extremely frustrating because i know im paying well over the odds to attend and realistically i cant afford to keep doing it... but i equally know full well there is no realistic possibility of me actually getting a season ticket anytime soon... Do you think there should be a minimum requirement in order to stay on the season ticket waiting list - something along the lines of must attend 5/10 games across all comps a season to keep your place? (I know some will instantly say no this is a bad idea but if you are on the list for a season ticket there has to be an expectation you are prepared to pay the £800+ for that ticket and if you are after a season ticket it should be because you want to attend games and not because you think you can resell individual games for more money)... It is extremely hard to believe that everyone on the list is actually attending games and as you say many people may not actually be prepared to buy the season ticket if the possibility came up furthermore less and less season tickets are likely to become available with the team performing better. I personally think it would be really interesting if this was added to see how much the list decreased by

[@inappropriatemontage7929]

The club makes a loss! What do you expect? Same people will criticise the club for not spending millions on new players

[@inappropriatemontage7929]

One of the most detrimental parts of football are transfer fees - no player should cost no more than the value of their contract.

[@REALLYRANDOMREVIEW5]

do we want world class or do we want to keep going how we were ??? This is NOT OUT PRICING FANS...... That Makes NO logical sense does anyone understand inflation and business in general Our club The Club Needs To generate Money URGENTLY ! who are the marketing targets ?? yes its expensive cost of living etc BUT A Huge BUT They would not price fans out that is anti Business and as we already know these Guys are good at Business Harsh as it sounds ... Pay up or shut up i couldnt afford to go anymore since covid iv moaned Zero about Ticket prices tbh maybe some of the waiting list will get a chance this year then now too UTV i'll be aiming to earn more so i can play more instead of whinging BTW things arn't coming Down it will continue to rise