Arsenal vs Manchester United is one of the biggest fixtures in English football, pitting two of the most successful clubs in the Premier League era against each other. With both clubs boasting massive fanbases across the globe, demand for tickets is always extremely high when these two giants collide.
In this article, we’ll take a look at how much tickets for Arsenal vs Manchester United cost, including factors like ticket type, seat location, and opponent. We’ll also compare ticket prices to other high-profile Premier League matches to give a sense of the premium commanded by this titanic clash.
What are the cheapest Arsenal vs Manchester United tickets?
The cheapest available tickets for Arsenal vs Manchester United tend to be in the away end at Emirates Stadium. These are sold by Manchester United directly to members with high loyalty point balances and tend to cost around £50-60:
Ticket Type | Approx. Price |
---|---|
Away adult | £50 |
Away concession | £25 |
Arsenal also makes a limited number of reduced price tickets available to members for home areas of the stadium. These generally start from around £65 for adults and £35 for concessions/juniors:
Ticket Type | Approx. Price |
---|---|
Home adult | £65 |
Home concession | £35 |
So the absolute cheapest tickets tend to be around £25-35 for juniors/concessions in the away end or home family enclosure.
What are the most expensive Arsenal vs Manchester United tickets?
The most expensive Arsenal vs Manchester United tickets are those in the premium hospitality areas of Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal offer luxury experiences like the Sky Lounge and Legends Podium which include Michelin star cuisine, premium seat locations, andlegend appearances. These can cost up to £1,000 per person.
Manchester United also offer premium experiences in the away end, including pitch-side seats and a ‘VIP Ultra’ package with a multi-course menu and matchday gifts. These can cost over £750 per person.
For standard tickets, prices are highest in the middle tiers of the stadium, which offer central views of the pitch:
Ticket Type | Approx. Price |
---|---|
Home adult club level | £97 |
Home adult lower tier | £85 |
Home adult upper tier | £65 |
So excluding hospitality, the most expensive standard tickets can be £85-97 for central lower and club level seating in the home end.
How do Arsenal vs Manchester United ticket prices compare to other big Premier League games?
Arsenal vs Manchester United commands some of the highest ticket prices in the Premier League alongside other high-profile matches like the North London derby against Tottenham.
Here’s a comparison of standard adult ticket prices for some of the league’s marquee fixtures during the 2022/23 season:
Match | Cheapest Ticket | Most Expensive Ticket |
---|---|---|
Arsenal vs Tottenham | £64 | £97 |
Liverpool vs Manchester City | £59 | £85 |
Chelsea vs Tottenham | £47 | £87 |
Arsenal vs Manchester United | £65 | £97 |
A few key points:
- The North London derby and Arsenal vs Manchester United have near-identical pricing, underlining their comparable status.
- Liverpool vs Man City is marginally cheaper, possibly reflecting Man City’s smaller fanbase.
- Chelsea vs Tottenham has cheaper lower-end prices but premium tickets on par with the biggest games.
Overall, Arsenal vs Manchester United matches the North London derby as the most expensive ticket in English football.
How have Arsenal vs Manchester United prices changed over time?
Like most Premier League clubs, Arsenal and Manchester United have steadily increased ticket prices over the past decade to drive matchday revenue.
Some key trends:
- 10 years ago, adult tickets started from £32. In 2023, the cheapest adult tickets are £65 – a 100%+ price increase.
- The cost of the most expensive standard tickets has risen from around £70 in 2013 to £97 in 2023, a 40% increase.
- The price gap between cheapest and most expensive tickets has widened significantly.
Both clubs justify price rises based on the demand for tickets and the need to provide a world-class fan experience.
United and Arsenal also point to more affordable concession tickets for young and senior fans to make matches accessible.
But there’s no doubt the financial power of the Premier League has driven up costs for fans wanting to watch one of the biggest games in English football.
What other costs do fans face watching Arsenal vs Manchester United?
On top of the ticket price, fans wanting to attend matches face a number of other costs:
Travel
Most fans have to pay for travel to London from across the UK or even overseas. Trains, petrol, flights, and hotels all add to the expense, easily running into hundreds of pounds.
Food & drink
Refreshments inside Emirates Stadium carry a premium. A pie costs £4, while 500ml of Carlsberg lager is £5.50. A decent meal and drinks for one person can cost £20-30.
Programme & merch
A matchday programme is £5-10.Replica shirts cost £60-70, while scarves, hats and other souvenirs range from £10-40.
Together these can add over £100 to the trip for one person. For a family, getting to and enjoying an Arsenal vs Manchester United match can run to £500 or more all-in.
How to get the most value from Arsenal vs Manchester United tickets
Fans looking to reduce costs can consider:
- Buying concessions tickets if eligible.
- Choosing cup games which are usually 10-20% cheaper than league matches.
- Avoiding midweek games which have lower demand.
- Getting the cheapest seating in the upper tier behind the goals.
- Staying outside central London for cheaper hotel rates.
- Bringing your own food and refilling water inside the stadium.
- Travelling off-peak on public transport.
Planning ahead and being flexible on things like travel dates can help minimize the costs around attending matches.
Should Arsenal vs Manchester United tickets be cheaper?
There is an argument that Premier League clubs should make tickets more affordable, especially for loyal local supporters.
Key points of the debate include:
- For – Lower prices would allow more low-income fans to attend and improve atmosphere.
- For – Cheaper tickets would reward loyal supporters rather than monetizing demand.
- Against – Premier League clubs already face very high costs to maintain a top squad.
- Against – There is no obligation for clubs to lower prices in a free market.
Ultimately, clubs will charge what the market can support. With Premier League revenues rising every year, ticket prices for marquee matches seem unlikely to fall significantly any time soon.
Conclusion
Tickets to see Arsenal take on Manchester United live at the Emirates remain one of English football’s hottest commodities. Fans can expect to pay a premium, with adult tickets starting from £65 rising to over £95 for the best seats.
Factor in travel, refreshments, merch and more, and it becomes a very expensive day out. But for supporters of these giants the chance to see their team in one of the biggest fixtures of the season makes it worthwhile.