Arsenal giveth… and Arsenal take away
By Kevin Whitcher
Change in ticket pricing for home matches
We had grade A ticket prices and grade B, now we have grade C. And good news. Grade Cs are going to be much cheaper – allowing silver and red members to get into home matches for £25.50 (plus the ubiquitous booking fee of course). However, it’s not all roses. Grade A games are increasing in price to ensure the club doesn’t lose out financially – admission for the likes of Man Utd and Spurs goes up to a minimum £62.
More Bacary for your buck (against the lesser lights anyway)
Season ticket holders are unaffected, but the real cost will be to those that are regarded as ‘cherry pickers’ – only buying tickets for the higher profile fixtures. If you go regularly as a red or silver member, then maybe the cost will even out, I haven’t done the maths yet. Doubtless someone can in the comments section.
However, if you are one of those fans that just wants to see a home game occasionally to get your Arsenal fix and when you go is more dependent on your finances than the opposition, then it’s good news. You will be paying less because you are happy just to be there.
The Arsenal Independent Supporters Association have campaigned for cheaper ticket prices to the club, and in conjunction with the Arsenal Supporters Trust have taken part in discussions with the club to bring this about. If you only go to the bigger matches, it’s not good news, but the fact that the less-moneyed fans can save a bit of money when the likes of Stoke and Sunderland are in town has to be a good thing, right?
The full story can be read on the AISA website with details about the increased prices on the official website
Friday evening update – Have received the following from AISA which they have asked me to mention…
1) Benefit of cat C is for at least 6 matches a season so a bit more than occasional - a third of the league matches
2) Cat A and Cat C balance out so if you go to all of those, no effect
3) If you attend:
(a) only cat C you will save between £57 - £110 over the season (6 matches)
(b) all cat B & C you will save between £53 - £100 over the season (14 matches)
13th July 2012
User Comment and Reaction
User comments on this article are now closed. If you want to continue the debate, why not do so on the Gooner Forum.
James 13:59pm 13th Jul 2012
£62 for a seat is outrageous. Maybe you'd pay it for the Invincibles, but Arsenal are miles away from that quality. - Post No. 26781
maguiresbridge gooner 14:15pm 13th Jul 2012
It would never do for the club to lose out financially now would it. - Post No. 26782
RJ 14:37pm 13th Jul 2012
Hooray! An article on a subject other than RVP. Well pointed out Mr Ed. I have a nephew student who can barely afford red membership and just likes to turn up to the odd game - he is happy with WBA, Stoke, whatever - and support the team and not gripe and whinge and moan (in that respect he is not really a Gooner, but...). Come on you Gooners. - Post No. 26784
Positive Poster 14:38pm 13th Jul 2012
Some good news from the Club for once, anyone want to put a post up banging on about Asset Stripping Stan and Charitable Usmanov, just to put a dampener on things. - Post No. 26785
Tony Evans 15:21pm 13th Jul 2012
Arsenal are not getting a penny more of my money until Wenger and / or Kronke leaves. Some may say I am cutting my nose off to spite my face but I don't support Wenger's vision of gung ho football which I think it is blighting my club and I certainly don't support Kronke and this is the only way I can register a protest. Futile I know because too many fans either haven't got the 'mental strength' to say no or perhaps, perplexingly, genuinely think Wenger is right with his crazy vision of how to win football matches. - Post No. 26786
Gary Thwaites 15:55pm 13th Jul 2012
This is indeed good news for some and I commend AISA for their campaign. However, do not be fooled into thinking it is an altruistic gesture by the club. It is not. Regardless of what the official figures say, every regular at Ashburton knows full well that attendances have been falling in recent years, particularly at the so called “Category C” games. Given that we are in the midst of yet another summer of discontent (which will probably see yet another skipper and marquee player sold at the end of it) the steady decline is likely to get worse next season. Although clearly not interested in running a successful football club, the board certainly know how to run a successful business. All they appear to be doing is lowering prices on tickets that they might otherwise not be able to sell at all, whilst increasing prices on tickets that they know they will have no problem shifting, even if only to wealthy casual fans. It is simple supply and demand and nothing whatsoever to do with the club wanting to give the poorer supporters a break. The real worry is that it appears for all the world that, rather than address the root problem, the club is already hedging against falling demand during another disappointing season. - Post No. 26787
Tom O'B 16:00pm 13th Jul 2012
So, one can do both the Mackem and Southampton games for less than going to the Chel$ki one?? Count me in! CFC game on tv isn't it? Job done. - Post No. 26788
GoonerRon 17:15pm 13th Jul 2012
Please God let this be the end of the endless ranting about us 'paying the highest ticket prices in world football.' - Post No. 26789
Stuart L 17:35pm 13th Jul 2012
As a lowly red member I welcome the cat C pricetag, reflecting the quality of the opposition as these are generally about the only games that I can get access to, while I have no chance of a ticket v Chelsea, tiny totts etc. Oh and GoonerRon, the fact that they have made the cheaper seats cheaper doesn't alter the fact that we charge the highest prices in the land for the top end seats to watch on the whole, second class football. - Post No. 26791
Dave 17:53pm 13th Jul 2012
@Gooner Ron Lowest price ticket for Cat A game £62 Highest price £124.Please tell me another club that charges so much?£124 is daylight robbery - Post No. 26794
Ronster 18:12pm 13th Jul 2012
I sleep very easily at night knowing I am not lining the pockets of gangsters Stan,Ivan,Arse-ne and co! ''Again...they'll never see me again....they'll never see me again...they'll never see me again.Again...!!'' :-D - Post No. 26795
Au Revoir Arsene 18:27pm 13th Jul 2012
Kevin can you explain why the price of FA Cup and CL group games tickets has not been made Cat C(even then thats too much).Why didnt the AISA and AST put that forward?.I would love to see Silver and Red members boycott the Cat A games because they are all live on Sky.Who would ever believed it £62 for the LOWEST price ticket at the Soul-less.At least wear a mask when you are robbing us Mr Gazidis - Post No. 26796
Two together only £248 18:54pm 13th Jul 2012
It wont affect me at all.They could lower ticket prices to a £5 and i wont return.Not until Kroenke Gazidis and Wenger go.I shall continue to get my Arsenal fix in my local knowing i am not supporting the current regime.What has slipped under the radar is the club will continue to charge Cat B prices for FA cup games a competition we dont take seriously and which we never put full strength teams out.Anyone who pays £62-£124 for a Cat A ticket when the game will be on live tv needs their head examined.And we all thought the banks were taking the p*** - Post No. 26797
Dave 19:10pm 13th Jul 2012
Vote with your feet. Why pay outrageous amounts of money to watch people who do not want to play for the club. - Post No. 26798
Gavin 19:13pm 13th Jul 2012
Funny how this has been announced now and not before ST's were renewed the club must have known they were doing this months ago it wasnt decided yesterday.What is the point in buying a season ticket anymore?.Last season 11 home league games and all the Cat A games were on TV.How many of the Silver and Red members are going to pay £62 plus for a ticket?If i was a ST holder i wouldnt be very happy today - Post No. 26799
Big Andy 19:28pm 13th Jul 2012
I'm not going to renew my Red membership, and I'm not going to another game until there is a major change at the club. The Keronke/Wenger managership has failed to take the club forward. All we are doing now is filling the pockets of Keronke. We will not win a major trophy until we get a new manager and/or owner. - Post No. 26800
smee 21:32pm 13th Jul 2012
As a pensioner, it seems I have been priced out of watching any of the top teams at Arsenal. Oh well!! as long as the owners and players get their wages, who am I to complain. - Post No. 26802
GaryFootscrayAustralia 21:46pm 13th Jul 2012
160 quid gets you a season ticket at Boreham Wood. Sure, it's Conference South, but it's one of the cheapest in that league, there's no rip off, you can sit or stand pretty much anywhere you like except for FA Cup round proper ties, and the players are there for the game itself as much as the pay. Plus the bonus of WHL hero Ian Allinson who "run tings" down there... - Post No. 26803
Tulli Joe 22:35pm 13th Jul 2012
Whoa! we are just a club that is only profit conscious £124 for a ticket. Who are we even going 2 watch? Infringe players like Ashavin, squid, Djoru which can't win any trophies. Another nightmare as a fan. Plz we need a change in management - Post No. 26804
JM - LONDON 23:23pm 13th Jul 2012
Absolutely outrageous (yet again). The savings examples given on the club website are all based on the North bank lowere tier. All of these seats (lower tier), without exemption in my experience, are always sold out when ticket sales become available to Red members. So its the dreggs of the upper tier again this season (row 21 etc) presumeably dearer prices. - Post No. 26805
wrag 1:27am 14th Jul 2012
kinda pointless ,because most of you will pay and go ! so shut up and grow some balls and stay away ,or go and protest outside the stadium , im sick of this **** ....how many of you already have the new home shirt ?..and pre ordered the new away one ?..i ****ing dont have and i can tell you now, i wont ! club is a joke ..wake up and smell the coffee friends...THEY DON'T ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THE FANS !..this is the last post i make here, before the start of the season im sick of the talk and none of the walk ...i shall be back in september ,when its all went pete tong again! - Post No. 26807
jj 8:28am 14th Jul 2012
More spin from the the AFC bullsh** machine. - Post No. 26811
The Hampshire Gooner 9:33am 14th Jul 2012
On the subject of tickets. I paid out £30 for two season ticket waiting list positions around five or six years ago and forgot all about doing so until a few weeks back. I rang the box office to find out where I was on the waiting list and was told my position of 11,887 just last month. I received an email on Thursday afternoon offering me the opportunity of two season tickets for this coming season. I guess the lure of watching Arsenal has dimenished a lot over the last 12 months or so to move up the list that quick. Can't see the waiting list being very long for a while to come so I refused the option. Might re-think in a couple of seasons if more ambition is shown. - Post No. 26812
Peter Wain 9:40am 14th Jul 2012
the higher the prices the lower the quality. You have to laugh at the snake oil salesman -"got to keep prices high so that we can invest in the first team squad." The board have always regarded us supporters as only a cash cow. No doubt what we are playing for this season 4 place in the premiership. - Post No. 26813
johnnyhawleyloovinggooner 11:56am 14th Jul 2012
i am still not going back to we replace marquee sales with marguee buys or have a ready made ,just as good,ready to step up replacement at he club. a fairer way of pricing games though - Post No. 26815
Bergkamp10 12:26pm 14th Jul 2012
Im off to Fulham. £400 for a season tkt and you get to see all the top clubs and Arsenal. The most expensive tkt at Bayern Munich is 50 euros and you can stand for 20 euros. Arsenal are taking the piss and some. You can stick your Kroenke up your money bloated arses. - Post No. 26816
maguiresbridge gooner 13:33pm 14th Jul 2012
Well done to the online gooner in getting this news out to us yesterday with other sites only catching up to day. - Post No. 26817
john 14:04pm 14th Jul 2012
Just who are these people representing Arsenal fans? Who pays money to go on a waiting list? Who's got £124 to watch a game of football? - Post No. 26818
Cameron 17:21pm 14th Jul 2012
As others have pointed out, this is clearly not an altrutistic move by the club, but rather a clver ploy to get the same overall ticket income from a supporter base that is becoming increasingly less inclined to splash ridiculous money on football tickets to support a second rate team. This way they hope they can still hook in those that have basically been priced out for the **** fixtures while still hooking in the rich casual fans/tourists for the big games. While not harming your average Arsenal fan, its cynical in the extreme, and more than that, is an admission of failure. I'd love to see the 62 quid joke backfire on these cynical b*stards.. BOYCOTT CATEGORY A GAMES!!! - Post No. 26819
AnEssexGooner 17:52pm 14th Jul 2012
I love the £124 number getting wheeled out, hardly any seats at that price point. - Post No. 26820
Gooner1711 18:33pm 14th Jul 2012
Hampshire Gooner, are you serious? So since the end of last season you've shot up the best part of 12,000 spaces?!!?!? So that means the season ticket list is disappearing so fast by people giving up and refusing......wow! Anyone got a higher number than 11,887??? - Post No. 26822
GoonerGoal! 20:36pm 14th Jul 2012
@Tony Evans "Ditto!" For the firs time in 70 years no member of family will be present at any Arsenal HOME games, and neither will any member of my family be buying a single item of Arsenal merchandise until such time as Wenger, Gazidis, and Kroenke have nothing further to do with the club! - Post No. 26823
Steve H 10:53am 15th Jul 2012
re Hampshire Gooners comments he's right I got offered a season ticket despite being way down the supposed waiting list, and was offered the season ticket for £1500 what a rip off if there is no strengthening of the team - I still have silver membership so would be more inclined to use those for the cat B and C games - the price for the A games is a total joke. - Post No. 26826
The Hampshire Gooner 11:16am 15th Jul 2012
Gooner 1711 - Totally serious. I was amazed as I did ask in June how long it might take for me to get to the top of the list and was advised it was hard to tell but maybe 2-3 years and then bang a few weeks later I had been offered two ST's for this coming season. The list was over 50,000 when I first joined it but I can't imagine the current list can be anything like that long now. I would confidently predict that if someone joined the list today they would be offered a season ticket within two years tops. - Post No. 26827
Sweeps 15:45pm 15th Jul 2012
Once again its the Arsenal rip off so the guys with silver and red memberships have to pay £50 for the privilage of buying tickets along with booking fees, and season tickets holders like myself will pay up front for a cat C game at £35 and if I sell on ticket exchange I will only get £25 how is that right. - Post No. 26828
RJ 19:20pm 15th Jul 2012
Responses to articles on this blog are becoming comical in their negativity.... - Post No. 26830
Tony Evans 8:19am 16th Jul 2012
RJ - Please feel free to post a positive comment - we would all love to hear it and would like to know what it would be. - Post No. 26831
Ron 9:42am 16th Jul 2012
Pay it if you want to. Im not, im glad to say. Id go so far as to say that watching Arsenal's squad these days is maybe worth 30 quid tops and thats for any game, not their dubious cat a and b s etc etc. I and told theyre offering season tickets to red members now?. Its the start of the real decline perhaps as the recession and fan disinterest starts to bite? The Club have lied about match day attendances for at least 4 years in my view. - Post No. 26833
Red Member 12:51pm 16th Jul 2012
so if I go to just 1 category A game this season I will be charged £33 membership + £126 ticket + £2 booking fee = £161 and then when we play City/Spurs/United etc we will lose because we can't afford to keep hold of our best players... I am not sure this business model is sustainable - Post No. 26867
Steve the Gooner 15:43pm 16th Jul 2012
Seeing as we always get ripped off by paying the top prices at away games are the club going to charge the away fans the £62 for watching a Cat A game and £25 for the Cat C. It will be interesting if they do as you may see a few empty seats in the away end. - Post No. 26891
RJ 6:49am 17th Jul 2012
@Tony Evans - 3rd one in on this article for a start! - Post No. 26920
Ron 10:27am 17th Jul 2012
Steve the Gooner - I doubt it mate. They need the away support to whip up an atmosphere. The Arsenals tip tap, half hearted, weak kneed 'beautiful football' long since stopped whipping up a fervour amongst our own support. I'd go so far as to say, increase the away allocation. Let them have the entire South End perhaps. It might just prompt the natives into generating a noise for us and even allow Arsenal to fill the stadium and tell the truth about the gate figure for once. The concept of 'truth' might need explaining to the Board first though!!! - Post No. 26924
Tony Evans 8:09am 18th Jul 2012
RJ - If that is the best you can come up with I rest my case and it is no wonder we are all so negative. - Post No. 26989
No. 17
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