Season Ticket Prices in Scottish Football - Who Offers The Cheapest Tickets?
The prices decreased at one Premiership club, were frozen at 3 clubs and 5 announced increases. 3 Premiership clubs are yet to announce
“Early bird” season ticket renewal period are extremely popular in Scotland, with the majority of clubs offering a discount to fans that can demonstrate their loyalty by renewing their season ticket in the earliest renewal window.
This supporter renewal period is critical.
Scottish football relies on the income from fans more than any of the top 20 leagues in Europe. Around 40% of all money that comes into the Scottish Premiership is garnered from ticket sales; compared to just the 8-9% from TV revenue. By comparison, the English Premier League clubs could let all their fans in for free - for every game of the season - and not even lose 10% of their income. Whereas the majority of Scottish football clubs would become instantly insolvent without the fans.
This reliance on ticket income is obviously well understood by the clubs, and this time of year is critical for their planning for the upcoming season. Until they know their season ticket numbers, they are unable to budgets. The decision to offer contracts to players at many of our clubs will hinge upon season ticket sales in the spring.
For thousands of fans in Scotland, it’s an emotional connection and a loyalty to their club that obligates them to renew, rather than the product on the park or an expectation of lifting silverware. Many clubs try to draw on this emotional loyalty by creating brilliant videos like Kilmarnock's or in Motherwell’s case, both a video and a sales brochure - in an attempt to persuade the fans to renew.
This article will look at all Scottish Premiership clubs - plus the two clubs which are hoping to join the league on Friday night - Falkirk and Livingston. It will demonstrate the cheapest ticket available in each price category as well as the increase - or in one club’s case - the decrease in prices from last season.
It’ll also list the estimated number of season ticket holders at each club, based on either:
the club’s annual report (Aberdeen, Celtic and Rangers provide exact numbers) or
an approximation from the last number publicly released by the club.
The prices listed are:
The cheapest ticket available within the “early bird” discount period for existing season ticket holders. General sale prices are more expensive.
The cheapest ticket in the stadium, as most clubs pricing can vary enormously based on stand or section. For example, although the cheapest adult ticket available at Rangers is £457, the padded seats with the best view in the main stand will cost nearly £900.
Excluding any reduced price restricted view tickets, or the prices paid by any ambulant or disabled season ticket holders.
Approximate age categories, as most clubs vary how they categorise an age group. For example, St. Mirren have a “junior” category for all kids aged 12-17, where other clubs break this down into 17-18 year olds and then 13-16 year olds.