Fans like Saturday, 3pm
Awkward kick-off times putting supporters off
Georgina Turner and agencies
Wednesday September 21, 2005
As the investigation into the Premiership's falling attendances begins it is kick-off times, and not high prices, that are being pin-pointed as a bone of contention.
Chairman of the Independent Football Commission (IFC), professor Derek Fraser, today met with Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore to discuss the increasing numbers of empty seats and warned him that changes to the fixture list - of the type that mean Middlesbrough kick off at 3pm on a Saturday just once in the first half of the season - were as much to blame as rising ticket prices.
"From what fans are saying to us, there are fewer complaints about the absolute level of ticket prices and more about the timing of games," he said. "That appears to be the biggest bone of contention - particularly when the date or kick-off time is changed after the initial fixture list has been announced and they have, for example, booked a cheap rail fare.
"Moving away from a Saturday afternoon kick-off can cause problems to fans, and this is something that has increased with the current TV deal and if clubs are in the Uefa Cup."
Ticket prices at Chelsea had attracted the most complaints, Fraser said, but stressed that all clubs need to consider how they will attract the next generation of fans, as well as generating income now.
"I'm not going to condemn football for being over-priced but clubs need to look closely at affordability and getting the right balance for different sorts of supporters.
"We have suggested that clubs think about the longer term as well as the short term and if there are not appropriate prices for youngsters they are not developing the next level of the market.
"It is not just about price though. Blackburn have suffered one of the biggest percentage drops in attendances but they have among the cheapest tickets in the Premier League."
He added: "The most common theme with regard to prices is away supporters complaining about Chelsea with the cheapest tickets being £45. We have been told of Newcastle fans who go to every away game refusing to go to Chelsea because of the cost."
Fraser said Scudamore had buttured him that the Premier League's attendance working group would be looking at the whole issue next month.
