West Brom and Aston Villa fans defy slump to pay for tickets

May 21 2009 by Paul Suart, Birmingham Mail

RECESSION, what recession?

More than a third of Villa and West Bromwich Albion fans polled in a survey published today said they would make financial sacrifices to renew their season tickets to watch their beloved teams.

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Finance firm ING Direct quizzed 2,000 season ticket holders from across this season’s 20 Premier League clubs to gauge whether fans were willing to save up to renew tickets after many clubs announced they were freezing prices.

A total of 41 per cent of Villa fans said they would cut back on other expenses to afford their season ticket.

And 36 per cent of optimistic Albion followers said they would do the same despite their team’s relegation to the Championship last weekend. Eighteen per cent of Villa and Baggies diehards said they would renew “whatever” the cost, while only nine per cent of Villa supporters and five per cent of West Brom fans would not renew if prices went up.