EPL: Arsenal Most Expensive Team to Watch

Arsenal have been shown in a new study from the BBC to charge more for tickets than any other Premier League team.  We take a look at the key findings of the study to show what it costs to follow the Premier League, and where you get the best value for money.

With financial markets still struggling and employment still a problem in many areas of the UK, you might be surprised to see just how much a day out at the football costs.

Most Expensive Season Ticket

Arsenal are the most expensive team to follow in the Premier League, with the most expensive season ticket prices in the league.

The cheapest season ticket at the Emirates will set you back £985, the most expensive by over £200.  The prices are so far above other Premier League teams, you could buy the most expensive season ticket at 16 of the 19 other clubs and still pay less.

As well as having the most expensive "cheap ticket" in the Premier League, Arsenal also have the most expensive ticket overall.  A top-priced season ticket will set you back £1,955, substantially more than every other team, except Tottenham Hotspur, who are not far behind.

The one advantage to buying a season ticket at Arsenal is you receive seven tickets to cup games, either the FA Cup or Champions League.  That makes the average price per game for a low-level season ticket around £38.

Cheapest Season Tickets

Perhaps the biggest surprise in the study was who had the cheapest season ticket in the Premier League.  Manchester City, who have assembled the most expensive squad the the Premier League, actually charge the least for fans to watch.

The price of the cheapest season ticket at the Etihad Stadium is just £299, more than £200 less than any of Manchester City's title rivals.

The teams closest to City when it comes to ticket prices are Aston Villa and Cardiff City, where a season ticket will set you back £325 and £329 respectively.  

The trio are the only Premier League teams you can watch for less than £18 a game.

In terms of the cheapest luxury season ticket, West Bromwich Albion take some beating, with their most expensive ticket costing just £449, less than the cheapest ticket at nine of the other Premier League teams.

Their closest competitors are Hull City (£490) and Swansea City (£499), with all three providing excellent value for money when it comes to top-range tickets.

Biggest Range

Tottenham have the honour of being the team with the widest range of season ticket prices in the Premier League.

The difference between the cheapest season ticket at White Hart Lane (£765) and the most expensive (£1,895) is £1,130.  The location of the club in North London is one reason the prices are so high, especially for a team that hasn't broken into the top four since the 2011-12 campaign.

Another could also be a reflection of the relatively small size of White Hart Lane.  One thing is certain though, Tottenham have taken advantage of the market fully by offering such a wide range of ticket prices.

Perhaps that is the long term influence of former owner Lord Sugar.

Most Expensive Single Ticket

Arsenal not only have the most expensive season tickets, they also have the most expensive matchday ticket.

Going to see Arsenal in a one-off game at the Emirates can cost up to £126, amazing considering a season ticket at Bayern Munich costs as little as £104.

The one positive for Arsenal fans is the cost of the cheapest tickets inside the Emirates.  The cheapest seat inside the Emirates is just £26, making it possible to have a cheap day out at a Premier League game in London.

Cheapest Single Tickets

Cardiff, Manchester City and Norwich City all have very reasonable matchday prices, with tickets available for £20, but they are not the cheapest in the Premier League.

That award goes to Newcastle United, whose cheapest matchday ticket is just £15.

These numbers can be misleading though, as these are the prices for games against teams considered to be lesser opponents.  Prices to go and see the top six teams will be higher, but if you are looking to see a Premier League game on a budget, Newcastle is the place to go.

Worst Value Tickets

Liverpool and West Ham United take the award for being the worst-value teams to watch in the Premier League.

With both teams having fanatical fanbases and relatively small stadiums, demand for tickets often outweighs supply.  This means that both season ticket and single-match tickets are poor value.

At Liverpool the minimum you will pay for a single ticket is £38, the most expensive minimum price for any of the Premier League clubs.  West Ham are very close though, with their cheapest tickets priced at £37.

With the average price for a low-end ticket at £27, both clubs charge more than 35 percent over the average price of a single ticket.

Neither club do well in the season ticket stakes either.  Liverpool charge £710 for their cheapest season ticket, more than £150 more than any other team outside of London charges for a similar ticket.  

Liverpool have a great history, but that doesn't justify charging significantly more than teams challenging for similar positions in the league.

Season tickets for West Ham are cheaper at £600 for the low end—expensive for a team with no superstar players, and in only their second season back in the Premier League.

If you want value for your money, then avoid West Ham and Liverpool.

What Are Your Thoughts?

To see the full report head over to the BBC website, where you can get a breakdown of every club's prices for this season.

What do you think about the price of tickets in the Premier League?  Do you feel like you get a good deal from your club or are you cringing every time you need to cough up for tickets?

Should the Premier League follow the model of other European leagues and lower ticket prices, or is the league strong enough to warrant such high prices?  

Leave your comments below to let us know.