By Mark Baber
September 11 – According to figures collated by the English Premier League, last season’s season ticket sales at both junior and adult level achieved new records.
Total adult season ticket sales for 2012-13 were 476,776, beating the previous record of 476,267 recorded in 2007/08 of 476,267 and 7% up on 2004-05, the first season the season ticket data was compiled.
58,546 junior season tickets were sold, beating the previous record of 58,313 set in 2008-09, marking a 26% increase since 2004-05.
With very little change in the sales of season tickets as a percentage of total attendances over the last nine years, promotion and relegation of particular clubs and changes in individual club policies have significant influence on the figures
The Premier League highlights the efforts of Everton who introduced a £95 season ticket for under-11s during the 2012/13 season and a £149 ticket for those aged 12-16, leading to a rise in the number of under-16s securing a full season ticket at Goodison Park of 39%.
For the current season, Newcastle United have extended their family enclosure to 8,200, Aston Villa have introduced a 2 adults and two children special season offer and Arsenal have launched the ‘Young Guns Enclosure’, an area for supporters aged 12-16 with access to 1,000 tickets to every weekend category B and C Barclays Premier League match for a fixed price of £10.
According to Cathy Long, the Premier League’s Head of Supporter Services: “Making football more attractive and more affordable for families is something clubs have worked hard at over the last few years. Premier League football is increasingly a family affair – 29% of fans attend with children, and the clubs are doing a better job in making football more accessible to them. In 2009, 76% of parents thought clubs catered well for their need, but that had increased to 87% last season.”
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