Why clubs should consider installing rail seats… No. 5
5. It can make football socially inclusive again.
Of all respondents to a 2007/08 Premier League survey of fans 74% were in the top two (AB and C1) social classes. In the same report, over 38% of fans gave ticket cost as their main reason for not attending more games.
If clubs choose to price standing at a discount to current seat prices, this can make match attendance affordable again to a category of supporters currently unable to pay / unable to justify paying / unwilling to pay current prices for seats.
As shown at reason 3, even with standing tickets sold at a quite generous discount, clubs could still generate higher gate receipts.
Clubs can thus make more money AND counter the criticism that they have priced out working class fans.