Football has been described as "the only religion without atheists" but its worshippers are expected to cough up an increasingly eye-watering sum when the collection basket is passed around.
There is scarcely an empty seat in Premier League grounds - 98% of stadiums were utilised on average throughout the 2021/22 campaign - but ticket prices have never been higher. Even in a cost of living crisis, the hunger for top-flight football in England is insatiable.
But this passion comes at a cost. There is a yawning discrepancy in price across the division which does not entirely line up with the quality of the clubs involved.
Here is the full list of season ticket prices for every Premier League parish in the 2023/24 season.
2023/24 Premier League season ticket prices
Data via The Athletic
"Distress, anxiety, anger, and disillusionment" was the reaction of the Fulham fanbase - per the club's Supporters' Trust - to the pricing structure for the 2023/24 season. The west London outfit has taken its monied surroundings a little too literally, hiking up the ticket prices to a "draconian" maximum of £3,000.
Only Nottingham Forest (20%) increased their season tickets by a larger average margin than Fulham (18%).
The steep fee is likely a result of the extensive renovations Fulham have made to Craven Cottage in recent years, constructing a new stand worth £100m fitted with a rooftop pool.
Tottenham's £1bn stadium can't boast swimming facilities or a cheese room - despite promising "specially sourced half-time cheeses" for VIPs during its construction - which is reflected in the ticket price. While considerably less than Fulham's demands, Spurs are still charging a sizeable £2,025 for a seat every two weeks.
Spurs set the dangerous precedent of refunding travelling fans after the team's galling 6-1 shellacking away to Newcastle in April, prompting ironic chants of "We want our money back" in subsequent games throughout the rest of the campaign.
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To complete the capital-centric top three, Arsenal are demanding a maximum of £1,784 for a new, standard season ticket. It may not be the most expensive in the division but the cheapest available price is still a steep £974 - the highest minimum sum in the Premier League.
West Ham very much operate at both ends of the spectrum. While the reigning Europa Conference League champions are one of seven clubs with season tickets that exceed £1,000, there is also a £310 price point - the lowest in the division.
Runaway Championship winners Burnley return to the top flight with the most affordable season tickets, demanding a maximum of £500 from their loyal fanbase. Fellow promoted sides Sheffield United and Luton Town are unsurprisingly also offering reasonable prices after escaping the Championship.
In stark contrast to their west London neighbours Fulham, both Chelsea and Brentford have frozen their season ticket prices over the summer of 2023. As many as 17 Premier League clubs are asking for more from their own fans compared to last season.
While Chelsea's haphazard new ownership are not afraid to splash the cash in the transfer market, they have not funded their splurges solely through the pockets of fans.
Brentford continue to be a shining example of an impeccably run club. The Bees finished ninth last season - their highest league position since 1938 - yet don't ask for any more than £549 for a season ticket.
During the 2021/22 campaign, Brentford were the only club whose total revenue was more than double their wage bill - Matthew Benham's data-backed side are making plenty of money and don't need to gauge their fans. If only some of the division's other clubs took the same stance.
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This article was originally published on 90min as 2023/24 Premier League season ticket prices.
