As one of the most attractive and commercially viable football leagues in the world, the English Premier League attracts thousands of fans every year. It brings together top clubs, such as Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, and so on, and players from all walks of life. The world’s top players such as David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo have all played in the Premier League.
If you are studying or traveling in the UK, Premier League matches are definitely an exciting experience that you should not miss.
So, as a new fan, how should you buy Premier League tickets and start an offline match watching? All you want to know is inside this article.
Where to Buy Premier League Tickets
1.Official Club Website
You can see the Premier League tickets information on each club’s official website. Each ticket costs around £35.
There are two ways to sell tickets on the official website, membership sale and general sale. Membership Sale is a channel that fans can only use if they have paid a fee to the club to become a member, while Genaral Sale is the way the club sells Premier League tickets to everyone.
For Premier League clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and other giants, membership tickets account for the vast majority of tickets, and only when facing weak teams or the first few rounds of the FA Cup, League Cup and other cup matches, tickets will be sold to the public.
2.Getting a Club Membership Card
All clubs in the Premier League have a membership scheme, which gives you priority in buying Premier League tickets and discounts on stadium visits and club merchandise.
If you are planning to buy a ticket for a big team like Manchester United, Chelsea or Liverpool, then you’d better buy its membership first. By becoming a member, you will be eligible to buy Premier League tickets directly through the club’s official channels, and on the other hand, you will also be able to get a membership pack from the club.
Registration is usually as simple as filling in your personal details on the official website and paying the membership fee (usually £20-£40), which is valid for one season.
It’s not all about buying a membership, though. Some ‘small teams’, such as Southampton, Stoke City, Crystal Palace, West Bromwich, etc., usually do not need to buy a membership and fans can buy Premier League tickets directly on its official website.
3.Ticketing websites
Although buying Premier League tickets on the official website is the cheapest and most formal way (£35 per ticket), most of the tickets on the official website will be sold to members first, and then to non-members.
Even if you’re a club member, you have to wait for members with higher points to buy their tickets before you can purchase yours. So, I highly recommend buying Premier League tickets through other websites.
Below are some of the platforms I recommend for purchasing tickets.
- Football Tickets Net
Football Tickets Net is a very popular UK based second hand ticket site. Not only can you buy Premier League tickets here, but you can also buy tickets for all the major European leagues as well as Champions League tickets. Prices generally start at £100. The more popular the match, the more expensive. The official website carefully displays the seating plan of each stadium, so fans can choose the best place to buy tickets according to the seating plan.
- Live Football Tickets
Live football tickets is also a second-hand ticket site, but this one focuses mainly on the Premier League. Prices also start at £100.
- Viagogo and StubHub
These two sites are mainly concerts second-hand tickets, but there are also ball game tickets, focusing on the field of tickets is quite sufficient can go to see if you can pick up the leak.
4.Travel Packages
Some travel companies have travel packages that include Premier League tickets and accommodation. It costs almost £10000 You can choose to buy such a package and follow the guide’s instructions.
Best Time to Buy Premier League Tickets
When is the best time to start buying Premier League tickets?
Generally, clubs will release their fixtures and ticket sales schedules at the beginning of the season or at the beginning of each month. You can check it on the corresponding official website. Besides that, if you are a member, the club should send you a sales reminder to your email address before each ticket sale. You can keep an eye on your inbox before each season.
Remember to check your membership status so that you don’t expire when tickets go on sale.
For other secondary ticketing sites, you can even buy tickets for entry before the game starts, as long as you’re not too concerned about the price. However, I would still recommend that you buy your tickets at least a week in advance to prepare for the game.
How much does a Premier League match cost?
A Premier League match is around £35.
How much does it cost to watch all the Premier League matches?
If you mean watching one team for a whole season, then you can use your membership to buy a season ticket on the official website, that’s about £1000+.
If you mean a total of 380 games for 20 teams, then you’ll need to set aside roughly £22,800.
Are there discounted tickets available? If so, how do I buy them?
Some clubs offer concessions for juniors, seniors and disabled people, usually 20-50% cheaper than normal tickets. You can register your age or student details on the club’s website when purchasing tickets. If you qualify, you can choose a concessionary ticket.
In addition to this, some clubs offer discounted sections for families. This is more favourable than buying tickets individually. Teams such as Arsenal will have specialised family section tickets, with seating positions usually in the corner flag area or behind the goal.
Which Match Tickets are a Must Buy?
In the Premier League, there are several matches between rivals that fans consider must-watch. These matches are usually filled with intense rivalries and historical grudges:
- North London Derby: Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur
This match is always full of fireworks. The rivalry between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur is more than just a confrontation between two teams. It represents the different regionalities and cultural rivalries of London.
- Who’s the King of London: Arsenal vs Chelsea
Arsenal and Chelsea are the pinnacle of London football, with a fierce rivalry in the Premier League and other competitions. Chelsea have dominated in recent years, but Arsenal are still the key rivals in this match.
- Manchester City Derby: Manchester United vs Manchester City
The rivalry between Manchester United and Manchester City has become one of the most watched matches in the Premier League, especially since the rise of Manchester City. It is not only limited to the city of Manchester, but is one of the major attractions of English football.
- England National Derby: Liverpool vs Manchester United
One of the most traditional and intense derbies in England, the Liverpool vs Manchester United clash symbolises the footballing glory of the two cities and their deep historical backgrounds.
What Do I Need to Be Aware of When I Go to A Live Game?
1.Wear the right jersey
If you are going to a home game, you must wear your home team’s jersey! Unless you’re travelling with a group of away fans and sitting in the away fans’ section, in which case you’ll have to buy a Season ticket.
If you’re wearing another team’s jersey, you may not even be allowed in.
2.Real names
Premier League tickets are real names, but other friends can use them and he won’t check if that name is you. So, it would be great if you have your own friends around who are well connected and have high level memberships.
3.Departure time for viewing
No matter where you’re coming from or how you plan to watch, it’s best to leave 2 hours early and aim to arrive at the stadium an hour before kick-off. This helps avoid traffic and gives you a chance to see your team warm up.
4.Stadium security
Some Premier League stadiums do not allow professional DSLR cameras to be brought into the stadium. Even if you do bring them into the stadium, you are not allowed to take photos with them during the match.
In addition, stadiums generally do not allow water bottles to be brought into the stadium, so it is recommended that you keep your belongings as small as possible. If you need drinks or food, you can buy them around the stadium.
It is also best not to bring a bag larger than the size of an A4 sheet of paper. If you do, you may be asked to store it, which will cost you at least £5.
5.Ask for players’ autographs
Most teams officially allow home fans to wait in the designated players’ tunnel for players to come in and out before or after the match. Generally speaking, two hours before and one hour after the match are the best times to get autographs.
6.Fan bars
If you don’t have a ticket for the match, don’t worry. You can watch it at a local fan bar with other supporters. However, be cautious around fans of the opposing team. Stay safe and enjoy the game!