Die-hard Irish-based Premier League fans spend up to €7,408 supporting teams in league title race
As the Premier League kicks off this weekend analysis from An Post Money of the six teams with the most support from Irish travelling fans shows die-hard supporters will spend up to €7,408 to cheer on their team at home games during the forthcoming season. As Ireland’s number one provider of Foreign Exchange An Post Money undertook the analysis following increased demand for its Foreign Exchange services from Irish-based Premier League fans planning their 2019/2020 season. An Post is urging fans to avail of its commission-free An Post Money Currency Card to help manage sterling required for the 19 home game trips during the season.
The six Premier League teams reviewed by An Post Money were: Arsenal; Chelsea; Liverpool; Manchester City; Manchester United; and Tottenham Hotspur. In addition to the Premier League sides, An Post Money, looked at season ticket prices for Celtic supporters.
The cost of season tickets range from £325 to £1,995 and while this will be single biggest one-off cost when the estimated costs of flights, transfers, food & drink and merchandise is added supporters will need to spend an additional €5,186, bringing the total cost to over €7,400. The majority of this expenditure will be in sterling and with 19 trips over a ten month period will mean that supporters will need regular access to sterling over an extended period. An Post is encouraging its customers who will be travelling regularly to sign up to the commission-free An Post Money Currency Card as a safer option than cash and a cheaper option than a credit card which will also avoid the worry of transaction charges on point of sale transactions while traveling.
The extent of support for Premier League clubs in Ireland can be seen through well over one hundred active official supporters clubs. With 30 official supporters clubs Liverpool has the most active network for its fans in the Republic of Ireland followed by Arsenal and Manchester United with 21 and 17 respectively. Spurs fans have a choice of seven official supporters clubs while Chelsea and Manchester City have six each. Beyond the Premier League Celtic Football Club has 34 official supporters clubs nationwide.
Of the six Premier League season ticket prices reviewed, Manchester City has the cheapest option to see all home games at £325 while the most expensive is at the new 62,062 capacity Tottenham Hotspur stadium at White Hart Lane costing £1,995.
Loyal Liverpool followers keen to see Klopp’s men in the Kop emulate the highs of last season by adding the Premier League trophy to the cabinet will spend up to £865 for their 2019/2020 season ticket. Those supporting the competing Manchester clubs can spend between £325 and £950 with last year’s Premier League champions Manchester City providing the cheapest option and Manchester United the most expensive.
Of the three London-based clubs Tottenham Hotspur charges the most for its season tickets with the cheapest at £795 and the most expensive costing £1,995. Chelsea supporters pay the lowest season ticket prices of the three London clubs with a price range of between £595 and £1,250 while Arsenal fans can choose season ticket packages from £891 to £1,768. Celtic season tickets cost a minimum of £495.
Commenting on the analysis, John Rice, Financial Services Director, An Post Money said: “There has been a long tradition of Irish-based fans making a fortnightly trip to England to cheer on their favourite Premier League side and to Glasgow to see Celtic. As Ireland’s biggest provider of Foreign Exchange through our network of over 900 post offices nationwide we always see increased demand for sterling later in the week with many fans sourcing sterling for their trips. For those traveling regularly we’re recommending they apply for our commission-free An Post Money Currency Card which is a safer alternative to carrying cash and with no charges for point-of-sale purchases will avoid transaction charges.”