Football means the world and more to many people and, at times, it can be difficult to escape, especially when it comes to Arsenal for those of us Gooners.
During certain moments in life, football offers an escape and a healthy coping mechanism to deal with the day-to-day stresses of life.
But the game has changed enormously.
Once upon a time, football was the working man’s game and clubs made their money through fans turning up at matches and buying programmes. Players could be brutal in certain instances on the field, but not unfair like we see now.
How much has football changed?
There is far too much shirt tugging, tactical fouling and TV money which divides and conquers clubs throughout the football pyramid, while tickets are overpriced for what they are – a 90-minute game of football in most cases.
If you go and watch Arsenal today, you’ll easily spend roughly £100 on a matchday. That includes the price of a ticket, if you’re lucky enough to earn one through the ballot system, food and rail fares.
Going back in time, football ticket prices in comparison to the cost of living were relatively cheap on top of paying monthly utility and grocery bills.
During the 1960s, you could stand on the terraces of Highbury chanting your lungs out for only a few pennies. Mind you, that was during the days before decimalisation, but even still, how times have changed.
I was born 40 years later and I’m aware of how much more lucrative football has become in recent times.
Even going back to 2014, £30 million was a lot in the transfer window and could buy you a decent striker. Now we’re speaking about over double that for the likes of midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, who cost the Gunners £75 million.
He’s deemed one of the greatest players in the world in current times from Newcastle United, so why wouldn’t you pay that?
That’s not the point.
As they say, “how long is a piece of string?”
Is football now about greed and power?
The World Cup proved just how underhand FIFA have become, selling shares in the World Cup and giving in to one of the most powerful men in the world, American President Donald Trump, who managed to reverse the sending off of one of his nation’s players in the tournament, as well as ex-Arsenal player Folarin Balogun.
Returning to price tags, football has become so expensive now that not even the man on the street can afford to go and watch his beloved Arsenal week in and week out, which he might’ve done for most of his lifetime until recent decades.
I’m all for the advancement of the sport, especially, for instance, goal-line technology, which Arsenal have benefited from at times, and I accept prices go up.
But this is about greed and power, which has slowly turned football into show business for the ultra-rich, taking it away from the average person like me and you!
Turning attention to next season, hopefully Arsenal will make the most of this and go on to win a second title, with our new signings, in particular Guimaraes, who should be a pleasure to watch.
COYG!!
Liam Harding
What do you think, Gooners? Has modern football become too expensive and commercialised for ordinary supporters, or are these changes simply part of the game’s evolution? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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AFC has avoided paying silly money on players that are not worth it, but we have overpaid for a few mediocre pl.
Our board is conservative but we are reaping the benefits
these days.. we are a well run club on a sustainable model.
Watching today´s game was pure joy.
You’re right it was 60p for the north bank which was insignificant at the time, the early sixties. There was never any thought of being overcharged or even being a real contributor to the actual costs of the football club, that was solely their business and the business of their directors.
I started going in the late sixties with my mum and dad who weren’t exactly flush with cash. It was affordable and entirely different from what it’s become today. No need to buy a ticket in advance, let alone pay for the privilege of getting a lucky ticket in the ballot
On one hand, it’s just economics – tickets etc are worth what people will pay for them. The way prices would go down is if people decided they were too expensive and stopped buying. Naturally as demand is so high, prices go up and do only the people who can afford it, and want to go, do.
On the other hand, I do consider it sad they must be pricing out a lot of the long term fans, who stuck with the club through good and bad times and helped it to grow into what it is. Just remember that when they ask for *anything* from fans – loyalty is only one way.
It’s a choice made by the club actually. The demand will remain regardless, Arsenal is a popular club. Bit they are opting to extract as much revenue as possible from tickets. You can buy a season ticket to any of the top EPL clubs for as much as 30% less… yet we earned more in TV rights than literally any other club in Europe last year, just as one example of an alternate revenue stream.
Roy Keane made his ‘Prawn Sandwich’ comment and he was heavily criticised for it at the time.
He shouldn’t have been criticised at all – he was telling the unvarnished truth.
Unfortunately yes.
Ah….the good old days that saw the turnstiles letting in supporters at 2.55 who didn’t have a chance in hell of seeing any of the game?!
But the daft thing was it really didn’t matter, as long as one was part of the crowd.
There was no chance The Arsenal would win anything for many long seasons but one kept going, spending (in my case) the money earnt from doing a paper round seven days a week .
I’m not so sure if the working man/woman has been priced out of football, especially when I see a family of four out for a Sunday roast, all on their mobile phones and wearing their must have branded clothes.
A matter of priorities unless you’re talking about being able to purchase tickets, then I agree 100% and I hope theKronkie’s can push through their Emirates plans to increase capacity and improve facilities.
Indeed, with a bit of pushing and shoving thrown in!!!
Is football becoming a big business? Ask FIFA and a certain Mr ….. These days, it’s not just football; sports is becoming a billion $ business and deeply mired in politics too. No political agenda in some clubs being owned by state funds ….. Really?
I like my football and always have. And yes football is more of a business now. And while that has to be the case to compete alongside the others, I can’t help but think the fan is the last to be considered regards the finances of the club is concerned.
You constantly hear the saying, that the fan is the lifeblood of the club, and the most important people attached to the club. But they get treated the worst of anyone connected to the club.
The tickets are way over priced, the players are paid way to much for what they do, the merchandise is overpriced. In fact the list goes on and on. For me, football lost it’s soul long ago. Football is all about money and nothing much else these days.
You only need to look at the fiasco that is the so called Champions League to confirm that. The top four or more now qualify, all because they want their piece of the pie.
As I said in my first line, I like my football. But I never lose sight of the obsene money making machine it has become. And at a cost to the paying fans I might add.
Now I have this argument with a certain poster who shall remain nameless, but I’m sure he’ll know who he is. He will come back at me with well if you can afford it, it’s up to you if you want to spend the money, and I don’t disagree.
But it doesn’t change the fact that the fans are being taken advantage off, regardless of whether you can afford it or not, doesn’t change that fact.
Nothing new, one can look beyeond the cost of sports entertainment to other factors as well; just like “bread and circuses,” as the roman poet Juvenal wrote. Distraction for the masses, just wears different masks.
Ironic how people are upset about cost, yet continue to buy merch, and want elite players in the squad; can’t have one without the other I am afraid.
If this is the price of success, then people who are bothered have to make a choice; relish the success but accept the cost, or reduce cost and spending and live with the diminishing productivity.
Durand,
What you say still doesn’t make me wrong about the fans being taken advantage of.
Merch, TV rights etc are revenue streams, as are tickets.
The issue a lot of Arsenal supporters (including the official supporters club) have with our corporate model is that our ticket prices are extremely high. We literally have the most expensive season ticket prices in the league by some margin. Obviously the ability to charge those rates is driven by high demand, but the decision to load up the ticket revenue somewhat separates us from say Chelsea or Man Utd – also clubs with huge longtime fanbases – who charge significantly less.
You make it all so black and white Durand
It would be kind of you to remember that I’m from a generation- as are many contributors- who have Arsenal in their life blood, their family connections and the proximity to the ground that hosts all our memories. When I sing North London Forever it rings true to me and my roots. I bump into my cousin when I’m able to bag a seat with a friend who sits up high in the stadium. I’m happy that the Arsenal are well supported globally but I’m not happy that every game I’m fortunate enough to attend is full of football tourists taking more of the locals away. What does North London Forever mean to them?
Buying the merchandise is a treat for my grandchildren and i wince every season when I purchase the new kit.
You have adopted a perspective that suits looking at a global picture without recognising the roots of English football and not all of us wanting the grotesque outcome that allows a sportsman to earn money that in truth they don’t deserve
SueP,
You’re post is spot on, and I couldn’t have put it better myself. You’re getting two thumbs up from me on this one. 👍👍