Arsene Wenger blamed Easter for fans staying away from the Emirates at the weekend whilst Manchester City often are mocked for having half empty stadiums but the Premier League has a big problem when it comes to fans and atmosphere.
Football is the people's game. It was supposed to be for the working class to enjoy themselves at the weekend away from work and when it became professional it was also a way of the working class to earn more money.
The problem now is that football, especially at the top level, often seems more like a business than a sport and that often sees the average person priced out of going to see their team.
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There's always a good atmosphere at Manchester United games against Liverpool:
Whilst attendances in the Premier League don't tend to take much of a knock unless your team is performing annoyingly badly, like West Brom and Arsenal (it's all relative), there are plenty of suggestions that many fans, especially at the biggest fans are more likely to be tourists.
It is great that the Premier League has such far reaching appeal to attract fans from abroad but it is often the reason, a long with corporate fans, that atmosphere's aren't always where they should be.
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It's a problem for Manchester United who have been trying to come up with ways of improving the atmosphere, with even Jose Mourinho recently mentioning it. Now the club have announced a selection of £15 tickets for 18 to 25-year-olds in the Stretford End, the Red Devils most boisterous stand.
The club also revealed that for the eighth time in nine years there will be a price freeze on season tickets,
In the announcement Manchester United's Group Managing Director Richard Arnold said, "The club enjoys unparalleled support and we recognise the sacrifice many fans make to watch the team home and away. Continuing the freeze in match and season tickets for next season is driven by our belief in supporting fans attending our games.
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"The introduction of reduced ticket prices for young adults in the Stretford End lower tier stems from suggestions generated by fan groups through our Fans' Forum, aimed at building on the tradition of vibrant support."
The club have been very seriously looking at all sorts of ways to improve the atmosphere inside the ground. In recent years they introduced the 'singing section' and have also considered song sheets and European style 'cheerleaders' in recent times.
Any decision to give a chance for fans to see matches cheaper and improve atmosphere is good by us!
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