THE DEMAND FOR ENGLISH LEAGUE FOOTBALL - A CLUB-LEVEL ANALYSIS

A demand equation is estimated for 19 large urban-based English Footba ll League clubs over the period 1962/3 to 1991/2, in order to analyse the economic determinants of club attendances while controlling for fo otball-specific factors. Attendances are measured with and without cor rection for admission of season-ticket holders. Using an error-correct ion specification to model attendances, it is shown that both adjusted and unadjusted attendances respond to real ticket prices in the long- run, in 17 and 18 clubs, respectively. The price-elasticity is typical ly larger for adjusted attendances, suggesting that 'casual' spectator s are more price-sensitive than season-ticket holders. Among football- specific factors, league position, goals scored and promotion and rele gation between the divisions are all important determinants of attenda nce patterns.