The Football Price Index

Index examines the cost of watching football in stadiums around the world in 2021/22, showing where fans get the best value for money based on the quality of each league as well as revealing which leagues contain the most valuable players and how much fans pay per goal.

At BudgetAir, there’s nothing we love more than travelling, but football certainly comes close. Each year we help thousands of fans watch their favourite teams abroad or travel to games of their dreams in cities worldwide. But the pandemic has impacted fans’ and clubs’ finances alike, and in this context we decided to study the cost of watching football in stadiums in different leagues around the world. We also compared data on the quality of each league to show where fans get the best value for money in terms of football entertainment.

We began the study by analysing ticket prices in the domestic leagues of the world’s best and most historic footballing countries. To do this, we identified the cost of watching a regular match and a premium match in each league, taking ticket price samples for seats in two areas of the stadium: behind the goal and along the touchline. We then used this data to calculate an average price deviation from the dataset median to enable a straightforward comparison of ticket prices from league to league.

Following this, we set out to quantify the entertainment value that fans receive in each country. Firstly, we calculated the overall market value of the players in each league to reveal where the highest value players are on show.

We then created a score to show the relationship between the average ticket price and the quality of each league, which we based on its teams’ recent performances in continental competitions and the value of its players.

Next, we analysed historical match results to identify the average number of goals scored per game in each league. Using this data alongside the average ticket prices, we were able to see where fans pay the most, and least, per goal scored.

The resulting index provides a comprehensive analysis of what it costs to watch football around the world in 2021/22, and where football fans get the best value for money.

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Methodology

The Football Price Index compares the cost of attending matches in stadiums in different countries around the world. Prices were sourced from official ticket platforms of clubs in each league as well as reseller platforms. Additionally, the study analyses the quality of the football in each league by calculating the overall market value of the players, the number of goals scored per game, and the performances of its teams in continental competitions. The resulting index gives insight into where fans get the best value for money.

Country Selection

The study comprises 28 domestic football leagues which were selected on account of their global significance, the performance of their national teams, or their current relevance in the football world.

Price Collection

The price collection took place between 30th November - 12th December 2021. Four matches from the 2021/22 season were sampled for each league. Tickets from official sources were sought first; when these were not available the reseller market was used. In each case, the cheapest available option was selected.

An average of the different ticket options was used to calculate the deviation from the dataset median for all tickets. The deviation from the median - the midpoint of the dataset - is calculated using the following formula:

(Price of ticket - Median of all ticket prices) / Median of all ticket prices

All local currency prices were converted into GBP using the monthly averaged exchange rates between 20th September - 20th October 2021. Exchange rates were sourced from Google Finance.

Match Sampling

To recognise that ticket demand and prices change according to which teams are playing, the study splits matches into two categories: Premium Games and Regular Games, which are defined as below using the final standings of the latest completed season in each country:

• Premium Games: matches between teams who finished in the top five in 2020/21.
• Regular Games: matches between teams who finished outside the top five in 2020/21.

The sample was compiled by collecting price information for at least two Premium Games and two Regular Games in each league. Upcoming fixtures were given precedence to reflect the current demand and prices that supporters seeking tickets would encounter.

Seating Options

Ticket prices were collected for two main seating options which were based on the following criteria:

• Seat Behind the Goal: Seating on the short side of the stadium, behind the goals, where tickets are generally cheaper.
• Seat Along the Touchline: Seating on the long side of the stadium, parallel to the pitch, where tickets are generally more expensive.

In order to be consistent when collecting samples from stadiums of different sizes and seating configurations, the sample was always taken from the lowest tier of seats, closest to the pitch. If the search returned multiple seating options, the cheapest option was selected.

Market Value of Players - Deviation

To understand the quality of the players, the study looked at the current total market value of the players in each league. To allow for straightforward comparison between leagues, this figure was calculated as an average deviation from the dataset median using the following formula:

(Average player market value- Median of all average player market values) / Median of all average player market values

Source: transfermarkt

Cost vs. Quality Score

The Cost vs. Quality Score shows where fans get the best value for money. It was calculated using an average of the ticket prices collected for each league, weighted by a composite quality score which was calculated using the following methodology process:

1. The results of each league’s representative teams in their respective continental competitions were studied and the following scores were attributed to the teams based on how far they advanced in the competition:
   Round of 32 = 0.20; Round of 16 = 0.30; Quarter-Finals = 0.50; Semi-Finals = 0.75; Final = 1.00; Winner = 1.50.
2. Next, the results were weighted by the aggregate market value of the participating national leagues (see Market Value of Players - Deviation).
3. Finally, the score was weighted by the league’s average ticket price.

The continental competitions analysed were: AFC Champions League (Asia); UEFA Champions League (Europe); CONCACAF Champions League (North & Central America); CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores (South America); UEFA Europa League (Europe); FIFA Club World Cup (global). Results from the latest two tournaments were used.

Average Goals per Match

The average goals per match was calculated by dividing the total number of goals scored in each league by the number of games played during the 2020/2021 season.

Cost per Goal

The cost per goal was calculated by dividing the average cost of a ticket in each league by the average number of goals per match.