On the back of The Lionesses winning the Euros at Wembley Stadium in the summer, we’ve seen many more people attending WSL games this season.
Recent data shows that to attend a WSL game it could cost as little as £6 for an adult and £1 for a child, therefore more young children along with their families have been attending games to see and support their idols live.
If these families were to attend a Premier League game instead, tickets could cost between £30-£100 per supporter. (This of course depends on which category of ticket they buy and which team they support). Could this be the reason why women’s match attendances are going up?
The data above shows that Tottenham Hotspur had the highest valued adult season ticket for the 2022/23 PL season at £2,025.
Each Premier League club plays 19 league games at home per season so if any Tottenham fan bought this season ticket it averages out that they have spent about £106.60 for each home game in the 2022/23 PL season.
This is without factoring in things like transportation to games, food and drinks at games and any merchandise being purchased too. Also any cup games as fans must pay extra for these.
On the other hand in the WSL, the highest valued adult season ticket for the 2022/23 season came from Arsenal, at £80 per adult. This works out to over 10x less of the price for the most expensive men’s PL ticket.
In the WSL there are less games played per season and the clubs don’t play at huge stadiums compared to the men’s teams.
But to watch one of the best sides in the league Arsenal at home, it averages out to just £7.28 per game for an adult.
So why are Premier League clubs like Tottenham charging so much money for tickets?
In the midst of one of the worst cost of living crises ever seen, will fans of Premier League clubs ever say enough is enough and decide to support the women’s teams instead?
Aston Villa fan and women’s football coach Gemma Taylor-Whitehead said: “I think for some clubs in the men’s game the ticket prices are extortionate, seeing season tickets at 1500-2000 pounds is ridiculous.
“With the cost of living crisis I do think some fans are having to sacrifice some games as they simply can’t afford it. For some people football is their release and their social life and having to say no is hard.
“But I don’t think the pricing in the men’s game has been the reason for more attendances at women’s games. I personally think that the women’s game is attractive in its own way. Of course men’s teams help when games are played at main stadiums or are given free access to women’s games with their season ticket. But the women’s game has grown in its own right.”
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