The number of overseas fans visiting England to watch
Premier League matches rose to 800,000 last year, contributing a collective £684m to the economy, according to new research.
Though most of the visitors were from the Republic of Ireland (121,000), the league also drew 93,000 from Norway, 58,000 from Sweden and 53,000 from the US.
Manchester United were the most popular destinations, with Old Trafford and the Emirates both receiving 109,000 international visits last year. Liverpool rank not far behind on 99,000, with 89,000 visiting Chelsea, 51,000 Wembley, 40,000 Tottenham, 33,000 Manchester City, and 30,000 Fulham’s Craven Cottage.
The research, undertaken on behalf of VisitBritain by the Office for National Statistics, also indicated that football-related tourism is responsible for one in 10 visits to the north-west, and one in 20 trips to the north-east.
The overall £684m economic gain represents a 15% rise – or an increase of £89m – compared to when the research was last conducted in 2010, when 50,000 fewer overseas fans visited.
While Richard Scudamore, the Premier League’s chief executive, welcomed the numbers as “very encouraging”, some fans groups remain concern that increasing demand will serve to drive up ticket prices still further. Last season fans staged
organised
protests against prices in the Premier League, while a Guardian survey this month found adult prices in the Championship will regularly surpass £35 – with Sheffield Wednesday
charging £52 for certain games.
Sean Bones, the Manchester United Supporters Trust vice-chairman,
told the BBC: “It’s good for the country when additional funds come into the economy but we need clubs to reward the long-term loyalty of our supporters.”
Tracey Crouch, the tourism minister, welcomed the figures as proof of “the positive role football is playing in showcasing key destinations in many different regions … It’s great for local economies, great for football and great for the UK’s tourism industry.”