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New study reveals Gallagher Premiership fan costs
By Jon Newcombe
Gallagher Premiership 2023/24 champions Northampton provide the best value-for-money and Harlequins and Saracens fans are hit hardest in the pocket, a new study by Novuna Personal Finance has revealed.
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Taking into account 14 guaranteed home games (Premiership, Europe and the Premiership Cup), the unofficial study calculates that Harlequins are the most expensive club to follow this season.
Across key price points which make up the matchday experience for fans, combining the price of an average adult season ticket, matchday parking and the cost of donning replica shirts, Quins fans are expected to fork out a total of £1,128.
With the highest average season ticket cost of any club at £801, equating to £57 per game, together with the steepest matchday parking charges of £252 and the joint highest price for a replica shirt (£75), Quins fans pay the most of any Premiership club.
In second place, as close contenders vying for the unenviable title of the Premiership’s least affordable club to support this season is Saracens. The study estimates that heading down to the StoneX Stadium to watch the Sarries in action will set fans back to the tune of £1,069 over the season.
In contrast, Newcastle Falcons are ranked the most affordable club to support at an overall cost of £587.99.
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The Falcons are the cheapest club to follow in the entire Premiership, thanks to the lowest average adult season ticket on offer at just £393 at the Kingston Park Stadium which works out at just over £28 per game across all 14 home fixtures (£28.07). The north-east club also sell the lowest priced replica shirt of any club (£54.99) coupled with offering mid-price matchday parking (£140).
The Premiership’s bottom club are joined near the foot of the league table by Northampton Saints with the reigning Premiership champions ranked as the second most affordable team to support at an overall cost of £682 during the 2024/25 season.
Supporting the Saints at Franklin’s Gardens sets fans back an average of £517 to secure a season ticket – coming in at £36.93 per fixture. With replica shirts on offer at £60 and the most affordable matchday parking (£105) available of any club means Northampton Saints also offer value for money compared to their Premiership rivals.
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The only pertinent cost in this study is the season ticket price. Whereas, of course, it's nice to wear the kit (and £75 is particularly eye watering), everything else (food, drink, kit, merch) comes down to personal choice. It doesn't have to form part of the match day (and therefore) season costs.
Car parking costs are completely irrelevant as not all fans will have access to his facility or would choose to arrive by car. Things called buses, trains, bicycles or even legs are available too.
A quick google search shows Quins have around 1000 spaces, Saracens around 800, compared to around 14k and 10k capacity stadiums. It is a cost incurred by less than 10% of attendees, assuming one person per car (but in reality this seems unlikely).
Removing this wouldn't necessarily change the league table, but no club would have a season cost of over £900.
The question would be more around how many season ticket holders can they have and do they come with a car park!
As an aside, would these locations have free parking around them would they then?
Skimming through I saw nothing to do with rugby. How did they rate their 'value'?
Regards to Saints? Second cheapest, finished top = best value for money. That's how I read it anyway