A work colleague turned 50 recently. For years she helped her husband run a local boy's team in Marston Green. She also helps to run the girl's team at our school. Despite her obvious interest in football she had never been to see a professional game. So for her birthday I bought two tickets for Blues match against Preston for her and her husband ( her husband comes from a Blues supporting family but doesn't go any more, that's why Blues and not City). The tickets were the best ones to be had and were £25 (£50 for the two).
They both enjoyed their day out. She couldn't believe some of the language she was hearing and she is not prudish. ( a rough lot those Brummies) When I asked her if she would go again she said that she would like to but that the price would put her off. They couldn't justify spending £50 on two hours of football. Her husband is a self employed carpenter, she is a teaching assistant, so not rolling in dosh but not poor either. I bought the tickets in advance, I don't know if price increases on the day. It is interesting that a club two divisions higher than us have tickets that are roughly the same price for centre line seats. If I had bought tickets for the Tilton Road end they would have been cheaper.
Since the Taylor report, all seater stadiums and particularly the advent of the Premier League, ticket prices have rocketed. In the 60s, 70s, 80s, and even the 90s ordinary working people wouldn't have had to think twice about going up the City as it was pay on the gate, walk through the turnstile and stand on the terraces. Prices were reasonable and affordable. That isn't the case now. I think the pricing and the additional cost of turning up on the day of the game are just one of a number of reasons why people don't go. I still love going to watch City, but I understand why lots don't go anymore. I think those saying that the idea that cost is an excuse, and that people need a reason to ease their conscience about why they don't go are forgetting that football isn't compulsory. While clubs depend on the undying loyalty of a faithful group to keep going, the obligation is still on the club to make sure that the fans are getting value for money. I think a lot of the missing thousands feel that they are not getting that value. This isn't just a Coventry factor, it happens at every club.
If we are winning and entertaining then I think attendances will increase. If football was more realistically priced I think attendances would be higher, winning or losing.
Part of the appeal of football but also one of the drawbacks, is that you don't know what you are going to get. It could be scintillating or it could be abject. Other forms of entertainment you more or less know what you are going to get, you will have read about a particular film or show. You are also sitting in the warm so nor likely to freeze or get wet. The only form of entertainment that I know more expensive than football that I would go to is the theatre. Tickets at £70+ mean I don't go very often. I guess some people feel the same about football.