Posted on 24th September 2014
This is a story from the FSF archive – the FSF and SD merged to become the FSA in 2019.
The Premier League has developed a new app designed to make travelling away easier and cheaper for fans. The app includes matchday information, club offers, and exclusive travel and hotel deals.
The app takes fans through every step of the away travel process from ticket information and travel advice to detailed plans of the stadiums and team news. Fans can also use the app to locate restaurants, pubs and hotels near to grounds, and receive offers from National Express, ibis Hotels, Roadchef, Just Park and One Stop, with more deals lined up.
Specific savings include £1 parking on matchdays with Just Park, 10% off room bookings with ibis Hotels, and discounts on food/drink at Roadchef motorway service stations.
Away Supporters Initiative
The Premier League say the app is part of their wider objective to “maintain the high levels of away attendance traditionally associated with the English game”.
It follows the implementation of the Premier League Away Supporters Initiative, launched in 2013/14, which sees each club invest £200,000 per season to make the matchday experience better for travelling fans.
Projects arising from the Away Supporters Initiative have included discounted tickets and free travel – see a full list from 2013/14 here. The FSF is compiling examples from 2014/15, if you know of any deals at your club email [email protected] with the relevant information.
Premier League Head of Supporter Services Cathy Long said the app was the next step in their work in this area, following the Away Supporters Initiative, which saw clubs commit to spending £4m per season on improving the matchday experience for travelling fans.
“The Away Days app – which a number of fans helped us create – is the next phase of our work in this area. It helps newer fans to find their way around and rewards those loyal away fans that travel far and wide to follow their clubs with a variety of offers,” said Ms Long.
Despite announcing its latest round of TV selections weeks ago, the Premier League has altered the kick-off times of two games during its penultimate game week – leaving travelling fans out of pocket and forcing Manchester City fans to choose between a title battle or a cup final.
This week Napoli secured their first Serie A title in 33 years following a 1-1 draw at home to Udinese – and Victor Osimhen’s goal for the Blues was enough to bring the Scudetto back to Naples and spark wild celebrations across the city.
The problem with disappearing tickets has been widely reported and has been experienced by our England Fans’ Embassy team first hand.
The Premier League has announced that it will extend the £30 away ticket price cap, and include a price cap in its rules for the first time, following today’s shareholder meeting.
